An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Made in the shade – Wing to provide 29 sun shades by end of May

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher
  • 386th Air Expedtionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing is erecting 29 stretched fabric sun shades throughout the Rock as part of a quality of life project that began in September.

The six-meter by six-meter shades will be placed at entry control points and near dormitories with all 29 shades going up by May 31.

"It's a stronger, more protective sun shade that we'll use to protect our Airmen, on and off-duty, as well as equipment from the excessive heat and rays from the sun," said Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Antwine, 386th AEW Command Chief Master Sergeant. "Currently, the plan is to install nine of the sunshades at duty stations, primarily the entry control points where our security forces Airmen stand post for extended hours in the sun. The remaining 20 sunshades will be installed throughout the dorm areas, which will give our Airmen a place to hang out during their off-duty time while not disturbing their room-mates who are trying to get some rest for their next shift."

The Command Chief said the shades have passed muster with the defenders.

"We already have one installed at one of our ECPs, and the young defenders on that post gave us the thumbs-up to proceed with the remaining ones," he said. "Our initial goal was to have these sun shades installed prior to the extreme summer heat, and thanks to our professional warriors, Capt. Herrera and Master Sgt. Roux, from the 386th ECES and 386th ECONS, we are on track."

Chief Antwine said the sun shade project came up just after his arrival at the 386th.

"As the wing command and I visit our Airmen, we often ask what we can do to improve the Rock," he said. "Last summer, we received several suggestions on initiatives to help combat the 125-plus degree temperatures, with dorm dayrooms and sunshades being multiple inputs. We developed a quality of life list to prioritize and track wing initiatives, and thanks to several units, we have completed numerous initiatives and vastly improved the quality of life at the Rock."

Although a place to hang out, the sun shades are not to be used as smoking areas, the Command Chief said.

"We intentionally made these non-smoking, recreational sun shades," he said. "We do have designated smoke areas, and we intentionally kept the two separated so the non-smokers will now have a place to relax in a healthier, smoke-free environment. Our firefighters are re-evaluating all of our designated smoke areas to ensure we have the proper stand-off distances as well as ensuring we have proper signs posted. I ask that everyone help maintain the standard by ensuring we only smoke in the designated areas and more importantly, keep the areas clean."

Chief Antwine said the shades are the result of Airmen stepping forward with good ideas and suggestions and asked to keep those ideas coming.

"The bottom line here is that our wing improvements begin with Airmen suggesting initiatives for our quality of life list, and wing leadership listens. Col. Torrens and I encourage continued inputs through their chain of command, professional organizations, direct e-mails and conversations with us, and yes, even through the Action Line if they want to remain anonymous or ensure their voice is heard. Keep those great ideas flowing."