BEAR builds new quarters for forces at Manas

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) --  A Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources team recently made room for the influx of coalition forces here as more military forces shift from Iraq to Afghanistan. 

A nine-member Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources team, known as BEAR, lent their construction skills to Manas Air Base where two 4,000 square-foot dome shelters awaited assembly for the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing's support for the surge of personnel already transiting through the installation.

"This is our last job in the (area of responsibility) this time around. We're the only (large structure) building team in the Air Force who get tasked to Southwest Asia and travel throughout the AOR, so we all know we'll be back before long to help build up more structures and repair or take down older ones again," said Master Sgt. Ryan Yeggy, the BEAR's team chief.

It took the team just a little over two days to put up the structures that had been stowed away in six metal cargo containers, complete with everything from the tent framing, cables and covering.

"It feels good knowing that my team of guys worked so hard putting these structures together and that we're really helping out those supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom," said Sergeant Yeggy, who is originally from Solon, Iowa.
The BEAR team was made up of a mix of Airmen from the maintenance and civil engineer career fields.

"We make a great team. Once we figured out the best way to build the domes, everything seemed to just fall in place," said Staff Sgt. Timothy Robinson, one of the BEAR team members. "Every stop along the way has gone very smoothly. After a while you don't even need to ask for something because someone is working there right next to you, tools in hand, ready for the next move."

Over the past 90 days, the 49th Material Maintenance Group BEAR team has been travelling across the AOR to countries such as Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan erecting the large structures.  The team will finish their work at Manas AB before returning to their home base: Holloman Air Force Base, N.M

"Along with great teamwork, we've been doing what I love most and that's traveling," said Sergeant Robinson, who is originally from Douglasville, Ga. "Traveling all over the in AOR makes a deployment more exciting. We are able to see the different cultures of the countries." 

Through the course of their 90-days in the AOR, the BEAR team has built 14 dome shelters as well as smaller "lamb" shelters and repairing existing tents along the way.

"We're very excited to have these new clam shell tents," said Lt. Col. Gary Kirk, the 376th Expeditionary Mission Support Group deputy commander. "They're going to give us an additional 200-bed-space capacity in each one so we're going to be able to bed down a lot more people," said Colonel Kirk, who is an Alabama Air National Guard member originally from O'Fallon, Mo.

"The transients will also like the new latrine facilities we put up next door to the clam shells and just across the street from the dining facility. We want to ensure the folks going downrange and transiting back home are going to be comfortable while here," he said.

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