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Deployed engineers keep service members cool

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bahja J. Jones
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  For many deployed service members, long days in extreme temperatures are the norm, and an air-conditioned room at the end of the day is not taken for granted. The 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron horizontal heavy repairs shop helps keep the cool air flowing by supporting installation and replacement of broken or unserviceable units at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.

"Without us the [air conditioning] unit wouldn't be able to make it on top of the building or wherever it has to go, and of course without the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning [flight], people won't be able to stay cool", said Master Sgt. Edward Jones Jr., the 379th ECES horizontal heavy repair section chief deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The 379th ECES horizontal heavy repairs shop does more than just operate cranes to lift and replace air-conditioning units here; they support any 379th AEW mission that requires operating heavy machinery and are qualified to operate loaders, dump trucks, tractor trailers, excavators, bulldozers and asphalt pavers, just to name a few.

"Right now, our main support here has been crane operations and relocating assets and resources," Jones said. "But if the job arises, we can support laying asphalt and concrete placement on the sidewalks and airfield."

Jones admitted he takes the most pride in the support his team provides building and maintaining runways and taxiways.

"It feels good to know every time a plane takes off on a mission, we played an integral part in making that happen by ensuring the runway was safe and smooth for the plane and the pilot," he said.

Nearly 20 heavy repair Airmen support up to 20 projects a week for the 379th AEW, tenant units, coalition forces and mission partners here.

"Nearly every job we do, we get to instantly see the result," said Senior Airman Keith Miller, a 379th ECES horizontal heavy repair journeyman deployed from Joint Base Andrews, Md. "It is a great feeling driving through the base and see the work we have done, such as road repairs or land we have excavated."

The 379th ECES horizontal heavy repairs shop paves the way, both literally and figuratively, for day-to-day operations here explained Miller.

"Heavy repair is definitely one of the most demanding jobs in the civil engineer squadron - an intricate piece to a part of a big puzzle," Jones said. "As heavy repair Airmen, we truly recognize we aren't the only players in the game and everyone has to work together to complete the mission."