JET Airmen support Soldiers at forward operating base

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE HUNTER, Iraq (AFNS) --  Twenty joint expeditionary tasking, or JET, Airmen are building a 64-tent living area for more than 700 Soldiers in one week here.

"Our challenge and main mission is to complete a 64-tent living area beddown to support 780 personnel of an entire Army battalion and then some," said Master Sgt. Jason Elftmann, 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Construction Team 10 superintendent and horizontal repair and project manager. "I've got approximately 20 JET Airmen comprised of electricians, carpenters, pavement and equipment technicians and plumbers here who are facing a challenge of getting power, heating and air, and showers for 64 tents within the week."

Sergeant  Elftmann said JET Airmen solely work for the Army here.

"We work where they want, when they want and how they want us to," Sergeant Elftmann said.

"The Soldiers are looking forward to getting these tents built up and powered up," said Army 1st Sergeant Jonathon Ballard, Bravo Battery 582nd Field Artillery first sergeant.

"The work relationship between the Air Force and Army is great. Even though the Airmen are greatly outnumbered by the Army, we still take care of them because they are part of the team, and they work very hard."

Sergeant Elftmann said the progress thus far has been great, and is expecting to complete and surpass the challenge and mission days earlier than required.

In fact, within two dusty days, the JET Airmen had completed much of the mission.

The Airmen installed two of three shower units with five stalls in each, including building the structure, putting in the plumbing, and installing the water heater. Electricians installed the generator and distribution panels, dug the powerline trenches and wired 32 of the 64 tents.

Overall, the JET Airmen made use of every pocket on the airman battle uniform - stuffing tools into them, thereby, wasting no time looking for tools.

With every tent completed, Soldiers, who've been living in powerless tents, move into the newly powered tents with lights, outlets and heating.

"The impact we make makes us feel good," said Senior Airman Mark Turner, 732nd ECES electrician. "You get to see the project from the beginning to the end and see how the Soldiers appreciate what we do. We are here to improve their well-being and that fact gives you some pride."

"When the team got here to FOB Hunter, the Army was pretty happy to see us," said Senior Airman Phillip Coley, 732nd ECES utility systems journeyman. "I had one (Army) specialist walk up to me and say, 'When we see the Air Force roll-up, we know living conditions are going to get better.'"

The Army first sergeant, from Norfolk, Va., agreed and said he has been impressed since the (JET Airmen) have arrived.

"I didn't even know the Air Force did this kind of work," Sergeant Ballard added. "I always thought Army engineers came in and built up the FOB. It was a big surprise when I saw the Air Force come in and saw how efficiently and fast they work. They have impressed me."

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