KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- The 809th Expeditionary Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers under the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group have had boots on ground since March 31 and are now leaving Kandahar Airfield this September.
Their tour began March 3 at Ft. McCoy, Wis., where they received training from the U.S. Army in marksmanship, convoy tactics, techniques and procedures, as well as Combat Life Saver training. Once they arrived at Kandahar, some of the RED HORSE personnel departed to some of the out-lying forward operating bases such as Tarin Kowt, Wolverine and Dwyer, as well as Bagram and Kabul.
RED HORSE "Dirt Boys" bedded down the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade by completing a ramp project, which allowed for the parking of more than 100 attack helicopters. Carpenters were crucial to the erection of several Southwest Asia huts which many units use for command and control operations. The electricians supplemented the SWA hut construction by providing adequate power to operate computers and equipment, as well as providing grounding to radar towers, helping to put "bombs on target".
Plumbers ran water and sewer piping with associated fixtures to complete the Medical Annex project, which will increase the quality of care provided to the coalition forces in Afghanistan. Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning personnel installed much needed cooling equipment in facilities to ease the burden of the hot Afghanistan climate.
The Logistics element kept them afloat with accurate material acquisition and vehicle maintenance. Services Airmen kept a roof over their heads and delivered "Meals on Wheels" to workers out at remote sites here. The Combat Logistics Patrol provided materials and equipment to the FOBs when airlift could not support.
The team safely completed more than 35 missions in more than 6 months on roads in Afghanistan. Four water wells were drilled throughout Afghanistan, increasing the quality of life for NATO military and civilian personnel.
For this outgoing RED HORSE team, home base is Malmstrom AFB, Mont. However, Airmen from bases around the world augmented the team with personnel serving in 29 Air Force specialties.
The 823rd RED HORSE Squadron from Hurlburt Field, Fla., is taking the lead in October. They too will be augmented with Airmen from around the Air Force, to include reservists from Pennsylvania.