Civil engineers deploy for training, exercise Published Feb. 23, 2007 By Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Seventeen members of the 434th Civil Engineering Squadron got some hands-on combat skills training recently - and then got to put that training to the test. The civil engineers deployed to Dobbins ARB, Georgia for the Air Expeditionary Force combat support training certification center where they got an opportunity to be certified on a variety of equipment. "They teach you how to operate things you'd come across when deployed to a base environment," said Master Sgt. Chuck Gill, 434th Civil Engineering Squadron operations superintendent. "It's a very relaxed environment at the TCC," said 1st Lt. William Swanson, deployment commander. "It's a great place to learn. We trained on all the contingency equipment we'd get to use [during a deployment]." From there the 17 members were joined by two other unit members and put those newly acquired skills to the test at Silver Flag, an exercise at Tyndall AFB, Fla. "Silver Flag is a requirement for civil engineers," Sergeant Gill said, "it puts all of us on the same page when it comes to responding to attacks and managing the equipment and resources we have as tools following those attacks." "This was a great training experience for our folks," Sergeant Gill added, "at the TCC they got hands on training, and then got validation of that knowledge at Silver Flag." "It was very beneficial," reiterated Lieutenant Swanson. "They throw everything at you during the exercise and let you work it all out." Six members were selected as superior performers during the Silver Flag exercise - including the entire four-man utilities team - something that was a first, he said. One scenario involved the sabotage of the reverse osmosis water proliferation unit, a life line in a deployed environment. The utilities team excelled in correcting the problem and ensuring fresh water was available. "Water and runways are our main factors in a bare-base environment," the lieutenant said. "Our utilities guys really excelled!" Other superior performers came from the carpentry and electrical fields. The two-week training may be over, but Lieutenant Swanson said it was very beneficial, and will be good for the unit as a whole.
