Red Horse engineers build Iraqi future

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Brian Davidson
  • 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFPN) --  In the military community, the Red Horse name invokes images of rough and ready Airmen who can deploy at a moment’s notice into austere and hostile environments and build an operational airfield, seemingly overnight.

In today’s war on terrorism, a group of Red Horse engineers from the Ohio and Pennsylvania Air National Guard have proven there is no challenge they cannot overcome in bringing freedom and stability to Iraq.

More than 300 guardsmen came together to form the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron, tasked with both new construction and repairing crumbling infrastructure here and at other operating bases within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

The Red Horse engineers were tasked with projects that varied from constructing new communication support facilities to refurbishing old Iraqi military buildings.

“We never know from one assignment to the next what kinds of challenges we will face,” said 2nd Lt. Ethan England, the squadron’s Detachment 1 commander. “Our training prepares us to operate in remote and high-threat areas where the construction expertise of the engineers and their combat skills are uniquely suited a combat environment.”

With what may seem like a surprisingly small number of Airmen to accomplish what are often massive projects, each engineer fills multiple roles to get the job done.

“We all have a … specialty, but each train in other engineering disciplines as well,” Lieutenant England said. “Each and every Airman is an expert in their own specialty, but is capable of filling the role of the man to his left and the man to his right.”

This concept is critical to getting a project completed, the lieutenant said. Electricians are also trained in operating heavy equipment. Heavy equipment operators know how to install plumbing. Draftsmen can properly mix concrete and carpenters can install basic electrical systems.

For Red Horse Airmen, training to be experts in multiple engineering disciplines is only the beginning. Each engineer is also trained in advanced combat techniques including ground base defense, combat first aid, convoy operations, force protection and combat arms.

“It’s not just a matter of bringing the best quality construction to an undeveloped or battle damaged area -- it’s also knowing how to survive and operate while accomplishing our primary mission,” said Senior Master Sgt. Bruce Snyder, noncommissioned officer in charge of the detachment.

During their deployment, the engineers completed projects including a communications network control center and infrastructure for an intermediate transfer node, an add-on-armor facility, and the infrastructure for a Baghdad International Airport main entry control point.

The first project was a vital link in upgrading communication capabilities for all coalition forces within the complex.

The add-on-armor facility challenged the team to refurbish an old Iraqi military industrial area into a facility that is now used to vastly improve the armor protection on M-113 armored personnel carriers. This project was critical to protecting U.S. Airmen and Soldiers from ever increasing and more powerful improvised explosive devices and insurgent attacks.

Finally, the engineers tackled the challenge of laying the infrastructure for the new entry control point. Working through days in temperatures often near 120 degrees, and well within the enemy’s line of sight, the engineers completed this project which will ultimately save lives. Situated along what some say is the most dangerous highway in the world, the entry control point improves civilian access to the airport while also providing a safe haven for contractors and servicemembers entering and leaving the base.

Since their inception in 1965, Red Horse units have a history of building and repairing critical air base facilities and utilities systems in even the most hostile environment. The guardsmen have proven they are dedicated to building freedom and security wherever they are called.