Digging deep, CE builds new sand pit Published Nov. 8, 2017 By Staff Sgt. Jami K. Lancette 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- In the trenches, Grissom’s dirt boys train in simulated down-range environment, gain fundamental knowledge. The 434th Civil Engineer Squadron recently updated the way their Airmen apply practical hands-on training by building a 40-by-40 sand box filled with 66 tons of sand. “The purpose of the sand box is to have the hands-on training aspect that is crucial to our job,” said Tech. Sgt. Christian Navarro, 434th CES heavy equipment operator. “It’s a tool that helps our surveyors map and read blue prints, our plumbers practice installing underground pipes and our equipment operators find problem areas underground while maintaining the integrity of neighboring pipes.” According to Navarro, applied training is an integral part of training success for CES both for domestic and combat capabilities. “We can read the textbooks all day but for most Airmen in CES it really won’t click until we have the opportunity to do the hands-on aspect of our job,” said Navarro. “Being able to go out, use our equipment and simulate our job with our new sand pit gets us sped up for when we go down range,” he added. Explosive ordinance disposal will also have unique training scenarios using the pit to detect various bombs and other dangerous explosive devices. “EOD can benefit from it in a big way,” said Tech. Sgt. Alex Barone, 434th CES heavy equipment operator. “They can use it with the simulated EOD bombs, work out different scenarios and different layouts for hiding bombs that they would see deployed. “Pretty much every job in CES can use it and benefit from it,” Barone added. With its diverse training opportunities, CES’s sand pit will be a tool to provide Airmen with constant training opportunities making them a valuable asset to not only Grissom but to the Air Force as a whole. “Our skill is one of those things, if you don’t use it you lose it,” said Navarro. The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
