Civil engineers rid Kunsan of austere living conditions

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFPN) --  Civil engineers here completed a construction project to update living accommodations typically used by servicemembers in support of air expeditionary force assignments.

Thirty Southeast Asia huts, commonly referred to as SEA huts because of their popularity during the Vietnam War, were finished in time to house approximately 300 Air National Guard members. The huts replaced the tents that for a long time have greeted arriving forces at Kunsan.

"Follow-on forces will have a better quality of living," said Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Slocum, 554th Red Horse Squadron chief enlisted manager at Osan Air Base, South Korea. "Because of the SEA huts, these forces will not have to put up and tear down tents when they arrive. With an increased capacity for power, lighting and air conditioning, Wolf Pack Park provides a more civilized living area."

The $320,000 project began in late 2005 with a survey of the park to determine construction needs. With concrete slabs for tents already in place, Red Horse teams began construction in January. Red Horse stands for rapid engineer deployable heavy operations repair squadron engineers.

Once the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron placed a request to construct the huts, Chief Slocum said Red Horse chose the project because of the benefit to both the Kunsan mission and the unit's training program.

"The 8th Civil Engineer Squadron asked Red Horse (to take on the project) because we can do the work cheaper than a contractor, and it provided us with a great training opportunity for our craftsmen to develop and improve their skills," he said.

But the work did not come from just the engineers at Osan. Deploying to support the project were more than 20 people from the Guam Air National Guard, 52 from the 307th RHS at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and 56 members assigned to the 555th RHS at Nellis AFB, Nev.

"We had many challenges (during the project), including the integration of Guard and Reserve troops who came to help us with our construction this year," he said. "It all went well, but maximizing available skills and manpower against a tight schedule was a daily challenge. The credit goes to the entire crew for the great workmanship and tremendous teamwork."

Chief Slocum said the work performed by the Red Horse team at Kunsan held true to its motto of "Semper Ducimus," or "always lead."

"Everyone worked together very well as one team, and we're very proud of what we accomplish in that ‘one team, one fight' mindset."