Bioenvironmental engineers provide peace of mind

Published Oct. 5, 2018
By Staff Sgt. Christopher Stoltz
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- You use it every day and you can’t live without it. You drink with it, shower with it and brush your teeth with it. Water plays a critical role is everyone’s lives, but is even more important in the desert areas throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

If the water isn’t safe, then the personnel stationed here are not safe. The 386th Expeditionary Medical Group Bioenvironmental Engineering office provides deployed personnel with the peace of mind the water they use will be safe, and a warning if that ‘safe’ status changes.

“A good day for me is when people do not know we exist, because it means we are doing our jobs properly,” said Senior Airman Adam Sanders, 386th EMDG environmental program manager. “Our office's responsibility is to ensure personnel here have a safe work center.”

Sanders, who is deployed from the 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, said one of the biggest challenges the BEE team faces is communication with other squadrons and the lack of newer equipment. He said they have overcome all of their obstacles by using an old, yet reliable method; visiting every unit in person.

“By building relationships early on in our rotation with key agencies, we have become very effective at our role,” Sanders said. “The location does present challenges, but the job is fast-paced and exciting. Out here, we feel important.”

The team applies a proactive approach and eliminates potential issues by conducting numerous sampling tests weekly, including every shipment of water the base receives. During any given sampling, the team often inspects thousands of bottles.

Tech. Sgt. Nakisha Simon, 386th EMDG Bioenvironmental Engineering non-commissioned officer in charge, said the team is responsible for more than water testing here, and their responsibilities range from identifying and evaluating workplace hazards to conducting hazardous material response. Simon said she is enjoying the change-of-pace the deployed environment offers.

“At home station I'm managing and running a program along with doing some field work, but there's a lot of time spent in the office,” said Simon, who is deployed from the 355th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. “Here I get to do it all, it's almost like being an Airman again. I get to get out, get my hands dirty and just be a technician again. I love it.”

Lt. Col. Francisco Catalá, 386th EMDG medical support flight commander, who is deployed here from the 78th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Robins AFB, Georgia, said Airmen like Simon and Sanders provide something critical many people take for granted until it is gone – peace of mind.

“What we do here at the BEE office is absolutely critical to the mission,” said Catala. “I have children and I always want what’s best for them. I feel the same about America’s sons and daughters – they deserve nothing less.”