Airmen going above and beyond

Published March 7, 2008
By Capt. Heather Kekic
Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LAGHMAN, Afghanistan -- Seizing opportunities has become a common practice for three Services Airmen currently deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team.

The Services Airmen volunteered to serve as cooks for the PRT's 80 Soldiers and Airmen deploying here; however, a couple months into their deployment the Airmen's cooking talents were put on the backburner when the Army's 173rd Brigade Combat Team, Golf Support Battery arrived with enough cooks to feed the FOB's 550 personnel.

Although their full-time work in the dinning facility was cut short, the benefits of their time spent in it are being reaped by the current kitchen staff. As a result of the Airmen's initiative and redesign, the 173rd kitchen staff now has a new stove, grill top, two ovens, deep-fryer, two extra-large refrigerators for fresh-food storage, utensils and pots and pans.

In addition to the new items, the Airmen redesigned the dining room making it more user-friendly and efficient. They also spent a considerable amount of time training the local national kitchen staff on proper sanitation techniques and obtained new clothes, changes of clothes and shower privileges for them.

The Airmen can still frequently be found in the DFAC working behind the scenes providing different, fresh and flavorful meals. For example, recognizing the "tower guys" missed out on good meals, they improved the midnight menu specifically for Soldiers who pull all-nighters providing security for the troops inside the wire.

"We completely revamped midnight chow and started cooking all kinds of meals," said Senior Airman David Sutherland, Services NCOIC, deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D.

Previous to the Airmen's midnight meal concoctions, the tower Soldiers' only choice for dinner was reheated leftovers.

"We would just come up with things off the top of our head," said Senior Airmen Eliceo Dejesus, Services specialist deployed from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. "We've made turkey curry, stir fry, schnitzel, calzones, pizza made to order, lasagna and Cajun chicken."

As word quickly spread throughout the FOB of the delicious midnight chow being provided, the late-night DFAC attendance increased to include more than just the tower's Soldiers.

The Services Team was not content with having their hands in just one pot, the DFAC, they also seized the opportunity to take on the Base Exchange and make it operational for the entire FOB.

"When Sutherland approached me about the BX, and taking it over, I gave him the go ahead to take the bull by the horns," said Tech. Sgt. Mario Delahoz, Services Superintendent, deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Va.

"We greatly improved the BX in size and contents and we had it moved from a small building to a much larger one," Airman Sutherland said.

Sergeant Delahoz said they wanted to regain control of the Morale, Welfare and Recreation building as well.

"We took the initiative and regained control of the MWR building for its intended purpose," said Sergeant Delahoz. "When the PRT arrived at the FOB, the MWR building was primarily being used as billeting for soldiers transferring to and from the FOB and VPB (Vehicle Patrol Base)," said Sergeant Delahoz.

As they worked to make the MWR building operational again, they quickly came up with the idea to combine everything under one roof and created a floor plan to include the Base Exchange, movie theater and recreational room.

When Airmen Sutherland and DeJesus set the goal of creating an MWR building, an environment for Airmen and Soldiers to go and have some fun, they had a lot of work ahead of them in terms of populating the facility with things to use and do.

After the request for funds through Army channels was turned down, they found support and financial assistance to purchase many of the desired items for the MWR building from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander.

"During one of (Brigadier) General (James) Hyatt's first visits to the FOB in the summer of 2007 we talked to him about our plans for the MWR building and he told us, 'anything we need,'" Sergeant Delahoz said.

The MWR items purchased totaled more than $150,000 and include two pool tables, eight 32" televisions, four couches, card tables, a high-definition movie projector, five X-Box 360's, five PlayStation II's, a popcorn-making machine and several board games.

"DJ (DeJesus) headed up all the Form 9's (Request for Purchase), he did all the research, accomplished and submitted them," said Sergeant Delahoz.

Deployed soldiers can be found daily playing ping pong at the MWR building or just hanging out.

"This building has improved a lot," said Private Second Class Gary Baker, mortarman, 1-158 Infantry, Arizona National Guard. "It's a place to get away."

They are still waiting on a lot of equipment to come in, Delahoz said. They also ordered 10 laptop computers intended as multi-use for people to not only play games on, but to accomplish work if necessary such as writing performance reports and awards packages.

"The biggest challenge we faced with the MWR was getting the help and financial assistance. We are mostly grateful for General Hyatt and (Air Force) Lt. Col. (Marc) Piccolo, these two made this happen for us," said Sergeant Delahoz. "We had to fight tooth-and-nail to make everything operational...but we did it for everybody on the FOB to enjoy."

Something else everyone else on the FOB can enjoy is the exterior renovations to the MWR building.

"These two also spearheaded the patio project in front of the MWR building for a place for people to hang out and eat BBQ," Delahoz said.

"We try to think of all kinds of things to do to keep MWR activities going," Airman Sutherland said. "We hold a BBQ every other month, we have pizza nights at the DFAC, what we are trying to do is improve the morale and the FOB in general."

"They really went above and beyond their job description and always tried to accommodate more," Sergeant Delahoz said.

In addition to the numerous BBQs and pizza parties, some other activities the Services Team sponsored throughout their 12 months on the FOB included starting up and running a volleyball league, volleyball tournament, darts, football tournaments and hosting Super Bowl, Fourth of July and Christmas parties.

"A lot of this wouldn't have happened without Sutherland and DeJesus, but they master-minded everything, from MWR, to the BX to the fitness center. "Their hard work and dedication made this happen," Sergeant Delahoz said.

They led the efforts on the fitness center renovations too and worked tirelessly over the course of four days to totally transform it. They ordered and installed a new, interlocking flooring to make the fitness center floor level and much safer. They had the existing benches reupholstered, ordered several new benches, repainted the entire building, coordinated with the communication shop personnel to install two 32" TVs, purchased 1,500 towels and implemented a towel service and fitness center attendant to keep the center clean and in order.

There is still more equipment expected to arrive in the next few weeks to include a Smith Machine, Hack Squat, Multi-Jungle and Hammer Strength equipment. Sergeant Delahoz said more than $75,000 was spent on the fitness center renovation project.

To describe the Services Airmen, Sergeant Delahoz called them, "Utility Men," because they go wherever they are needed. They have driven and gunned (Humvees) for civil affairs on convoys, helped the Police Tactics and Training Team teach self-defense to the Afghan National Auxiliary Police soldiers and coordinated mail, postal and USO visits.

Recounting achievements