Airmen providing civil engineering support to Soldiers

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Shannon Collins
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) --  About 50 Airmen from the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron here, along with four from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, low crawled and convoyed their way to becoming an “Army of One.” This prepared them to deploy downrange to provide civil engineering support for the Army.

The team is the first from U.S. Air Forces in Europe and one of the few Air Force civil engineer teams to serve with the Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom, said Lt. Col. Mitch Gordon, 52nd CES commander.

“Our team will provide vital infrastructure and utility support to the Army in Iraq,” the colonel said. “The unit will be fully integrated into the Army for the duration of the deployment and will be required to perform convoy and work detail security duties -- jobs not typically performed by Air Force civil engineers.”

To prepare for this unique assignment, the Airmen tackled two phases of training.

For the first phase, they began a rigorous physical fitness program in May. Then, they also trained on Global Positioning System units and improvised explosive devices from the 52nd CES explosive ordnance disposal flight. Next they underwent weapons familiarization, threat briefings and convoy training from the 52nd Security Forces Squadron. The 606th Air Control Squadron team provided radio familiarization and installation training. The final part of the first phase was convoy operations and weapons firing, administered in scenario form with the help of the Army 29th Support Group from nearby Rhine Ordnance Barracks.

For the second phase, they received combat lifesaver training with help from Soldiers of the 7th Army Training Command. To become certified, each Airman had to properly hook up a buddy with a real IV line. They finished up the second phase at Grafenwoehr, Germany, before deploying. There, the Airmen received training on various heavy weapons. They also learned Army GPS and radios, troop leading procedures, land navigation and convoy live fire training.

The Airmen were excited to accept the challenge.

“This is the best way to show our support to our Army brothers,” said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Legarda, a 52nd CES engineer technician. “This training gave me great respect for what our Army brothers go through in times of combat. This awareness training can save lives downrange. What better way to learn combat tactics than from the experts?”

The Army trainers said they were impressed by the Airmen and with the effort the Air Force is making to the joint concept.

“It was a privilege to train the motivated Air Force soldiers who took part in the weapons training,” said Army Sgt. Joe Micou, of the 7th ATC’s master gunners branch. “It is fantastic that our forces will be working together to bring the Iraqis the liberation and freedom they deserve.”

Ernest Roth, a retired Army first sergeant with three combat tours under his belt, also trained the 52nd CES Airmen and is proud of the joint concept being put to the test in this way.

“It validates the ‘one team, one fight’ concept that our military is built around,” he said. “Joint operations at all levels will dominate future military operations.

“Coming back alive from a combat deployment is the bottom line, and I am confident we have given the Airmen we trained the fundamental skills to do that,” Sergeant Roth said. (Courtesy of USAFE News Service)