442nd CES performs training at RAF Mildenhall

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Danielle Johnston
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The reservists will work in two-to-three man teams to accomplish nearly a dozen tasks in support of the active-duty CES here.

Approximately 50 members of the 442nd Civil Engineers Squadron returned here July 1 after completing two weeks of annual training in RAF Mildenhall, England.

The 442nd CES completed their mission by supplementing the 100th CES at RAF Mildenhall and re-enforced squadron cohesiveness with valued on the job training in an active-duty setting.

"A lot of times you don't know what to expect when you get to an active-duty base," said Maj. Ross McAfee, 442nd CES officer in charge. "They embraced us right from the beginning and put us to work -- I'm very pleased with what we accomplished here."

The CES worked in two-to-three person teams throughout the base -- with nearly 20 teams assisting at RAF Mildenhall. McAfee said the 442nd CES operations section built a building that increased the size of an existing structure by 50 percent, while the utilities section restored the operation of a waste water treatment plant.

When the crew arrived, the treatment facility was badly in need of sanitation and maintenance.

"This water-treatment plant provides for the needs of the entire base," McAfee said. "We were able to get a noncompliant plant fully functioning in five days. We are fortunate to have reservists who are so knowledgeable about their jobs."

According to McAfee the 442nd CES liquid fuels section restored the base's capability for recovering 280,000 pounds of fuel.

"From getting it out of an aircraft or cleaning up a spill, they can now keep dirt and water out of their reclaimed gas in an emergency situation," McAfee said.

The 442nd CES firefighters had the opportunity to react to a real-world event when a KC-135 Stratotanker had an engine problem.

"It had 68,000 pounds of fuel and 11 passengers on board," McAfee said. "We set up in various locations to be there when it came to a stop, but thankfully the flight crew did a good job landing and the hazard was avoided."

Senior Airman Ryan Zinter, 442nd CES firefighter, said he learned about the different types of equipment that could be used for a call and particularly learned a lot from the demonstrations they did with the active-duty CES for the Mildenhall public -- one of which included a live-fire exercise that required the firefighters to simulate a victim extraction from a vehicle.

"We had a public education day where we showed them how we react to various emergencies," Zinter said. "The public was pretty amazed to see how many personnel it takes to bring order in the face of chaos."

McAfee said every flight that participated increased their readiness score by an entire level due to the hands-on training.

"We couldn't have had a better annual tour," McAfee said. "We were at the right place with the right people at the right time, and unit morale is as high as I have ever seen it because of the quality training received."

According to Staff Sgt. Mark Lamoree, 442nd Emergency Management Flight non-commissioned officer in charge, the training was outstanding and gave him a fresh perspective. The squadron, which had 36 reservists return from a six-month deployment in spring 2012, got to once again show the military community the skills they have learned and developed over the years -- and learn new skills along the way.

"Active duty does this every day," Lamoree said. "It's great to gain their knowledge on things we don't get to do normally."

McAfee said the CES motto is, "you mess with the bull -- you get the horns" and said when something goes bad, CE is called in to make it right.

"This AT experience made us ready and stronger than before," McAfee said. "We learned new skills and reinforced the basics."

In additioned to maintaining the water-treatment facility and constructing a training facility, the civil engineers also surveyed grounding wires for the entire base, laid concrete for a grill pit at the in-flight dining facility, and ran the self-help center.