McConnell Reserve Civil Engineer Squadron helps keep base renovated, repaired

  • Published
  • By Capt. Zach Anderson
  • 931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Tech. Sgt. David Brodbeck carefully placed the large ceramic tile into place then peered intently at the small bubble in the level, checking to make sure it was between the two lines.  After a week of work that included removing old carpet, ripping up old tile and using a grinder to level the concrete surface beneath, he was taking every measure to ensure the new tile was level as possible.

Brodbeck was one of several members of the Air Force Reserve 931st Civil Engineer Squadron here working on multiple renovation and improvement projects around the base.  The new floor tile is part of a renovation to Building 1218, one of the most historic buildings at McConnell.

"It's been quite a project just making sure this floor is level," said Brodbeck, a structural craftsman with the Air Force Reserve 931st Civil Engineer Squadron.  "But hopefully we'll have most of the field tile completed by Monday and the border tile along the edges in place in the next two or three days."

The retiling project is just one of many endeavors taking place across McConnell to renovate and repair facilities and improve base infrastructure.  The Citizen Airmen of the 931 CES are playing a key role as part of the Total Force to ensure each project is completed.

"There are many projects we can work on over the weekend to help the [active duty] 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron," said Lt. Col. Douglas DeMatthew, 931 CES commander.  "We are able to provide support and help projects stay on track."

Recently, 931 CES Airmen have made significant contributions to renovations of Buildings 1218 and 1219.  The historic buildings are being repurposed for different operational use.

"We have had some of our Airmen here on orders during the week to help out on those projects," said DeMatthew.  "During a recent UTA weekend our Airmen connected some copper water lines for the chillers and the vent lines for the drains."

In addition to work in electrical, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) and plumbing, during the July UTA 931 CES Airmen installed new floor tile as well as sound dampening ceiling tiles.  Another project included removing more than 50 feet of a metal covering from the underside of a walkway at the base Temporary Lodging Facility to allow for inspection and repair.

DeMatthew said the Total Force effort of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and the 931st Air Refueling Group allows his Airmen to be involved in base projects and gain valuable experience.

"It's great to be in this kind of environment," said DeMatthew.  "Even at a Reserve owned base, we might not get projects like this to work on over the weekend.  It's a real benefit to be in a Total Force Integration unit like this, to have our Airmen plugged in with the active duty so that our people can go right in and work on a project.  It makes for greater velocity and speed of getting the projects completed."

DeMatthew said over the last year, 931 CES Airmen have provided more than 10,000 man hours of support to the active duty component at McConnell, to include teaching Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) classes for active-duty deployers and repairing air conditioning in buildings on base.

"We have a combination of our people who are working in the different 22 CES shops, and we have Airmen who come and work on many different projects," said DeMatthew.  "All of those projects fall under the big umbrella of McConnell civil engineering.  It's impossible to say one thing is just 931 ARG and another is just 22 ARW, so we work together."

Ultimately, DeMatthew said the Total Force approach to the base civil engineering mission has allowed his Reservists to bring their civilian experience and apply it to projects at McConnell.  By being involved, he said, his Airmen are able to benefit the base while gaining valuable experience in their military job as well.

"It helps our Airmen gain training and helps them to have experience in their military job before they deploy and go downrange," said DeMatthew.  "Many of our people already bring in a great deal of knowledge, and being involved in projects around the base gives them an opportunity to learn even more and helps us to be successful."