Engineering new strategies

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Travis Vazansky
  • 341st Civil Engineer Squadron
MALMSTROM AFB, Mont --  Creating something from nothing. That's the job of an Air Force civil engineer. Whether it's making drinkable water from a stagnant pool in the middle of a swamp or erecting an entire tent city on a barren desert, civil engineers are always up to the challenge.

Forty-nine members of the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron put their skills to the test at the Silver Flag training site in Panama City, Fla., Dec. 10 to 15, filling their week with an intense regiment of training which culminated in an expansive field exercise.

"The Silver Flag exercise is well-known in the Civil Engineer community across the Air Force," said Master Sgt. Scott Woodland, electrical craft lead. "It definitely tests the mettle of those who attend. Being able to complete the tasks needed to stand up a bare base in the exercise timeframe is reward enough, but to be praised for the speed and efficiency demonstrated in completing the task is a real bonus when nothing else but training is expected of anyone."

The sole purpose of the Silver Flag training site is to provide quality training. It is a 100-percent training environment. Each engineer lived in field conditions, ate MRE's on-the-go and attended more than 40 hours of hands-on training in their specific job areas. The training was provided by the 823rd RED HORSE Squadron, a full-time staff of engineers who are completely dedicated to instructor duties and manage more than 30 Silver Flag sessions every year. In addition to the packed days of training, the team also prepared a beddown plan as part of the curriculum. The students had to design an entire tent city for 650 personnel, including tents, power, a water distribution system and everything else that is part of a fully functional bare base.

Going to Silver Flag also means getting to interact within an Air Force team comprised of all components of the service, including the Guard, Reserve and active-duty components. The majority of this class was from Pease Air National Guard Base in New Hampshire. There were also members from Wright Patterson, Grissom, Travis, Columbus, Eglin and Otis Air Force Bases. Despite the slew of different members, everyone cooperated as one team to finish the week's final exercise in record time.

"When it comes right down to it, we are all engineers," said Staff Sgt. David Houge a controller with the 341st CES. "It was a great experience working side-by-side with the other Air Force units."

The exercise incorporated everything learned during the past week and packed it into a day of intense scenarios. The basic premise was to take an abandoned air base and bring it up to speed to support air operations. Half of the troops were tasked to set up a fully functioning tent city with electricity, heating and air conditioning, a sanitary water supply and force protection measures. The other half was required to get the damaged airfield up and running and capable of receiving aircraft. This included repairing 30-foot sized craters in the runway, installing an emergency lighting system and setting up an aircraft arresting system. The entire time, the teams had to deal with any attacks and emergency scenarios that the training cadre evoked upon them. Despite this overwhelming task, the students finished the exercise in 12 hours and 45 minutes, which was the absolute fastest the exercise had been completed all year, according to the 823rd RHS trainers.

"The team stepped away from the training with a new-found confidence and proficiency in their abilities," said Lt. Col. Daniel Costello, 341st CES commander. "Whatever contingency situation arises during the next deployment cycle and beyond, Malmstrom's engineers will be eager to take their proficiency to the fight."