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Building from the ground up: Civil Engineers oversee base improvements

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Dobrydney
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Not so long ago, servicemembers who arrived in Southwest Asia found a very sparse environment, with very little infrastructure. Today, through almost constant construction, the base is steadily making the transition from a rough, expeditionary state to a more comfortable, stable one.

The multi-million dollar plan is overseen by the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Programs Flight, the managers of all construction projects on this Southwest Asia base.

"This transition is going to be a lengthy process and we are going to ensure we do things right to meet our mission needs while, at the same time, taking care of our people," said Maj. William Moyer, 379 ECES programs flight chief.

Major Moyer explained there are three Area Development Plans for separate parts of the base; the ADPs make sure projects are scheduled properly. For example, new dormitories are slated to be built on the area currently occupied by temporary billeting buildings. Before construction on the new buildings can go forward the old ones will have to be removed and their occupants relocated.

Coordinating multiple projects over a wide area, while also satisfying the requirements of both the wing commander and higher headquarters, requires flexibility on everyone's part.

"The construction process consists of long-range planning, designing and executing," Major Moyer said. "We're in a very fluid environment, with changing mission needs as well as contingency and emergency operations. Being able to react and provide the warfighters with immediate requirements is a big challenge." An example of facilities meeting that challenge is the new Special Operations Command Central forward headquarters, which opened last month.

Allowing headquarters to be forward-stationed is important; however, making sure servicemembers have a good quality of life is equally important, Major Moyer said, citing the nine dormitory buildings recently completed in the Blatchford-Preston Complex. More dorms are planned to be built each year starting in 2010, gradually moving into the Coalition Compound and replacing most temporary billeting. Another quality of life project currently underway is a new self-service laundry facility in the Coalition Compound.

As the programs flight manages the progress of the various projects, the 379 ECES operations flight is actively working on the construction.

"On a day-to-day basis, our operations flight works tirelessly to maintain and repair all facilities that range from expeditionary tents to brand new facilities," said Flight Commander Capt. Sang Lee. "We are out there repairing systems of all ages and types and provide critical feedback to engineering teams currently planning and programming future projects to ensure operational input and design shortfalls are corrected."

A project Captain Lee's team is currently planning is the renovation of the Coalition Compound movie theater. In a joint venture with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, the operations flight will be renovating the projection room and upgrading electrical and ventilation systems to allow AAFES to install new screen, sound and projection equipment. The end result will be a theater capable of bringing first-run movies to base residents.

While the American government finances some of the on-going construction projects, the nation hosting the base has been working to build and upgrade facilities as well, investing $255 million to date. One host nation project nearing completion is a new power plant that will remove the Coalition Compound area's need to rely on generators for power; it is slated to come on line in the coming months. Major Moyer said working with representatives of the host nation and understanding their culture is a separate challenge facing the Programs flight.

"We're guests here," Major Moyer said. "We have good relations with our host nation counterparts and we strive to improve them every day."

All of the on-going projects, no matter what entity finances them, boil down to two main issues -- more efficient operations and better quality of life.

"The military is great at getting the job done and our troops are amazing in expeditionary settings," he said. "Imagine how much more we can accomplish with the right tools, facilities and infrastructure in place."