Squadron ‘cleans house’ to build new home

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matthew Rosine
  • 416th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KARSHI-KHANABAD AIR BASE, Uzbekistan (AFPN) --  Stepping out of the sweltering heat into the cool shadows of hardened aircraft shelter No. 21, many visitors might notice the new paint on the walls or the freshly swept floors and the spacious room.

The former Soviet-era shelter was not always so fresh, clean and inviting. Formerly used as a storage area, the unused cobweb-filled shelter had been deteriorating for some time.

But after days of elbow grease and determination, Airmen from the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron are turning the former storage area into a new home.

“Two weeks ago, we were told that this was a possibility,” said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Vera, a hydraulics technician and expediter for the squadron. “We were so excited that we crossed our fingers and started the project anyway.”

To begin the “home improvement” project, maintainers had to clean the shelter and make it serviceable. This project involved removing makeshift shelving, partitions and truckloads of waste, dirt and lumber. Much of the materials were salvaged and reused for new walls, flooring, shelves and creative squadron signs.

Before painting could begin, a lot of pressure washing, cleaning and other preparation had to be done.

Squadron Airmen developed plans to build an office inside the shelter and a study/break room.

The demolition, cleanup and construction teams worked during their off-duty hours before and after their 12-hour work shifts. So far, the volunteers put in more than 80 man-hours of cleanup. They have spent more than 1,000 man-hours on improvements and used more than 35 gallons of paint and over a ton of various other materials on the project.

“We have had as many as 10 to 15 people volunteering at a time,” said Sergeant Vera. “This really means a lot to us.”

The squadron’s maintenance flight has been working out of tents in a gravel lot since arriving in April. When the opportunity arose to move into a “home,” the Airnen jumped at the chance.

“We have really been pushing to make things better,” said Tech. Sgt. Gary Piatkowski, an instruments and flight controls technician. “It has been tough. For the past six months, we have had 40 to 50 people working out of a double-tent. For the long-term, this is really what we need.”

But from the start, the Airmen knew they would have their hands full.

“It was bad,” said Sergeant Vera. “We literally had to gut it. There was rot from termites and water. We had to tear out and rebuild practically everything.”

“It was a big project,” Sergeant Piatkowski added. “But it has been worth it. It has improved our camaraderie and morale. It is a better home and better working environment, and anything that betters the unit and betters morale, betters the mission.”

As completion of the project heads into the final stretch, volunteers are ready to do what it takes to finish their new home.