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Hard hats hard at work

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Senior Airman Daniel Rodriguez, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structural apprentice, climbs a latter to place bolts in a tent at Commando Village here July 12. Several Airmen around the wing volunteered their time to support the eight-man shop in building six new tents in preparation for inbound and outbound personnel. The structures shop’s mission is to keep the infrastructure of the base maintained, operational and in good performance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Senior Airman Daniel Rodriguez, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structural apprentice, climbs a latter to place bolts in a tent at Commando Village here July 12. Several Airmen around the wing volunteered their time to support the eight-man shop in building six new tents in preparation for inbound and outbound personnel. The structures shop’s mission is to keep the infrastructure of the base maintained, operational and in good performance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Airman 1st Class Wilfredo Orama, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structural apprentice, was one of many 386th ECES Airmen out there guiding the volunteers to build the tents in Commando Village for preparation of inbound and outbound personnel here July 12. For two nights, the volunteer team and the structures shop built six new tents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Airman 1st Class Wilfredo Orama, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structural apprentice, was one of many 386th ECES Airmen out there guiding the volunteers to build the tents in Commando Village for preparation of inbound and outbound personnel here July 12. For two nights, the volunteer team and the structures shop built six new tents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)

SOUTHWEST ASIA –Several Airmen around the wing took time out of their busy schedule to build more tents in preparation for inbound and outbound personnel here July 12. When the eight-man 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structures shop Airmen are not working on a major project, they are constantly in demand, doing various jobs around base. Approximately 200 work orders are submitted a week to their shop. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)

SOUTHWEST ASIA –Several Airmen around the wing took time out of their busy schedule to build more tents in preparation for inbound and outbound personnel here July 12. When the eight-man 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structures shop Airmen are not working on a major project, they are constantly in demand, doing various jobs around base. Approximately 200 work orders are submitted a week to their shop. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Col. Joseph Martin, 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander, builds several tents in preparation for inbound and outbound personnel here July 12. For two nights, Airmen from around the wing volunteered their off time to help the eight-man 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structures shop build tents in Commando Village. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Col. Joseph Martin, 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander, builds several tents in preparation for inbound and outbound personnel here July 12. For two nights, Airmen from around the wing volunteered their off time to help the eight-man 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structures shop build tents in Commando Village. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte)

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- SOUTHWEST ASIA - When it comes to getting the job done, they hit the nail on the head every time. They put a roof over the heads of Marauders, and keep their facilities running smoothly.

The structures shop is one of many flights in the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron that directly supports Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and coalition forces. The projects they take on keep the base going and growing.

"Our mission is to keep the infrastructure of the base maintained, operational and in good performance," said Airman 1st Class Wilfredo Orama, 386th ECES structural apprentice. "If it isn't water, electrical or power, they call us."

The shops latest project was to build several tents in Commando Village to provide that 'roof' for more servicemembers.

Col. Joseph Martin, 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander, and several Airmen from around the wing, volunteered their off-time to help the eight-man shop build tents.

"We had an engineer that knew his stuff out there and was extremely motivated," Martin said.

That Airmen was Orama and he recalls that night when Martin volunteered.

"That was the first time I had ever seen a colonel with his blouse off, sweating with us and working just as hard as us. I enjoyed explaining to him how to do our job," Orama said.

The inspiration for Martin was seeing the subject-matter expert Airman leading the project.

"They weren't necessary leading by rank," Martin said. "But their behavior leading the project was great. They definitely knew their stuff."

For two nights, the volunteer team and the structures shop built six new tents in preparation for in and outbound personnel.

When the shop's Airmen are not working on a major project, they are constantly in demand, doing various jobs around the base.

"We have approximately 200 work orders submitted a week," Orama said. "From little jobs like broken doors and cracking safes to the larger jobs such as demolition and fixing the runway; we are always busy."

The shop faces several challenges with each job in a deployed location, Orama explained.

"We don't have a Home Depot right out the main gate," Orama said. "We have to improvise the materials we have and use them wisely. We also recycle materials. Sometimes we have to do some 'MacGyver' stuff."

Give me a fish, I will eat for today; teach me to fish and I will eat for a lifetime. This philosophy has been Martin's motto for years and says it often to his Airmen. This saying hits home to the structural shop when they go home at the end of the duty day.

The first thing Orama did after his 17-week technical training school was drive to the nearest hardware store and buy new tools.

"When my wife realized what I did for a living, she had a 'honey-do list'," Orama said. "I don't mind - I get to play with my power tools and build things."

Leaving the blouse sitting on the back of a chair, going outside getting dirty and sweaty is the best feeling in the world, Orama explained.

"If you don't like getting dirty, don't work here," Orama said. "I love being that guy that smells. I smell because I am working."

"This is the job that people can see the end result right after finishing a job," Orama said. "That end result makes me want to come to work in the morning. It is broken, I fix it and I see it working again. I don't have to wait to see the result. I did it and I feel awesome."

Mission Video

380th Air Expeditionary Wing Mission Video

380th Air Expeditionary Wing Mission Video