All differences aside

Photo By Maj. Rusty Ridley | Staff Sgt. Kevin Korstange, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician, steps out of his primary Air Force specialty code duties by building an Alaska Small Shelter System tent at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Oct. 22, 2011. Korstange is deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and is a native of Lansing, Mich.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

11.04.2011

Story by Senior Airman Amber Kelly-Herard 

332d Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Rome wasn't built in a day, but the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron was able to erect seven Alaska Small Shelter System tents in a day, even with windy conditions.

The tents are being built for Navy facilities.

Not only was this an interservice expedition, but with airmen from most 332nd ECES units on deck, it was an "inter-Air Force specialty code" effort as well.

"Structures is the primary AFSC, but we also have almost every skill craft represented," said Capt. Kevin Brown, 332nd ECES commander, who is deployed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "That's how we build tents in days, and it's also how I build morale in the 332nd ECES."

Starting at 8 a.m., explosive ordnance disposal technicians, firefighters, power production technicians, generator technicians, emergency management, plumbers, electricians, equipment operators, heating, ventilation and air conditioning technicians and engineering assistants worked side-by-side to assemble the tents. Members of 332nd ECES Force Protection, who come from various AFSCs outside of the civil engineer career field, were also present.

"Once we got the word to go, we interacted with the Navy to see what their requirements were and then adapted to what we could attain, how much labor, the distance needed and safety," said 1st Lt. Jonathan Daley, 332nd ECES programs chief, who is deployed from Beale AFB, Calif. "It took a few days to get the ground prepared, the tents took less than a day, and when all was said and done, it took about a week."

First, engineer assistants laid out the floor plan. Then, airmen from the structures shop, who are the subject-matter experts, placed down aluminum flooring. Afterward, everyone set up the arches and put up the walls.

"Pretty much everyone in CE knows how to build an [Alaska Small Shelter System]," said Tech. Sgt. Todd McAda, 332nd ECES Structures non-commissioned in charge, who is deployed from Shaw AFB, S.C. "It was a team effort, and with there being only seven Structures guys, it was great, because we got the job done a whole lot faster.

"From the beginning when we got here and there was nothing, not just CE, but the entire base pitched in and that is really unique," continued McAda, who is a native of San Angelo, Texas. "Structures usually has a big burden, and everyone tries to pitch in. Now that our mission is mostly sustainment, it feels pretty good to be building stuff again and to do something that is related to the flying mission that is going to help us with the transition and by keeping everybody safe."

Although many AFSCs were represented, only one female was in the mix. Staff Sgt. Candace Otis, 332nd ECES Structures craftsman, was also one of the technical experts.

"I push myself to be better, and it feels great to know I can hang with them," said Otis, who is also deployed from Shaw AFB, S.C.

At the end of the day, differences in career fields didn't matter and the tents were completed.

"When it is all said and done and they are being used, we can all say, 'See, this is what we did as a team'," said Otis, who is a native of Mars Hill, Maine. "We can always see the end result and everyone else can too."

"'The best never rest,'" concluded Otis, reciting the 332nd ECES motto.

• Date Taken: 11.04.2011
• Date Posted: 11.04.2011 03:40
• Story ID: 79544
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)