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Behind the scenes of 20th CES (Part 2) - Operation flight provides rock solid support to Shaw

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Krystal M. Jeffers
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Editor's Note: This article is the second part of a six-part series on the mission of the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron and the work the Airmen assign to the squadron do day-in and day-out to keep the base maintained and combat-ready. The squadron is composed of: operations, fire emergency services, explosive ordnance disposal, engineering, and readiness and emergency management flights.

The mission is to "Build, Sustain, Protect... Here and Anywhere."

Such a vast statement covers just about anything, which is exactly what the Airmen of 20th Civil Engineer Squadron do - provide a rock, solid foundation to enable every other unit on base to perform its mission.

"The 20th CES mission is important to Shaw because we provide a first-class weapons platform, the air base, to the war fighter by keeping the facilities and utilities in operating condition and ensuring we can do so despite what Mother Nature or enemy throws at us," said Lt. Col. Terrence Walter, 20th CES commander.

There are six flights within 20th CES that work together to provide support to the base.

"We provide the basic needs for everyone: power, water, sewer, trash, facilities and infrastructure," the commander said. "We also provide the 'insurance' for these capabilities by ensuring we can minimize damage, then recover, if something goes wrong."

Within the operation flight, eight different sections play unique roles in providing basic needs to the base, including the heating, ventilation and air conditioning section, or HVAC.

"Just like the name implies, HVAC maintains heating, ventilation and air conditioning for all buildings on base except base housing," said Jimmie Whitehorn, 20th CES chief of infrastructure. "When it is hot, we will provide air conditioning. When it is cold, we provide heat. We also removed used air and replace it."

The HVAC section does more than just control the temperature of the buildings.

"We take care of anything that deals with ventilation to prevent sick building syndrome," Whitehorn said. "That is where the air becomes stagnant from no air movement. People can get sick from breathing in the air."

The HVAC systems are not the only part Shaw's facilities that the flight maintains. The structures section maintains the actual structure of the buildings.

"We maintain everything that has to do with structures on base like repairing windows, doors, drywall, and tiles," said Airman 1st Class Corey Freeman, 20th CES structural apprentice. "We weld and repair roofs. We are actually the crew that goes out and fix (roof) leaks."

In addition to maintaining the facilities, the section is also in charge of the retractable pole barrier at the gates.

Along with making sure the facilities are structurally sound and comfortable in temperature, the operations flight assists in providing power to them.

"The electrical section takes care of all the electrical power for the base," said Master Sgt. Mark McLaughlin, 20th CES operations superintendent.

The Airmen in the section repair any electrical outlets and features, change light bulbs and manage the traffic lights and alarms systems.

When the power fails, like when a storm hits, generators around base restore it. The power production section has the responsibility of maintaining more than 85 generators on Shaw and they are check weekly. They are also in charge of the aircraft arresting system.

If an airplane comes in too fast they drop a hook. The hook catches on one of the 12 cables stretched across the runway to slow the plane's speed. Those cables compose the AAS.

The operations flight maintains more on the base than just buildings.

It is the horizontal section's duty to maintain all the roads and sidewalks along with other duties to beautify the base.

"They are operators for heavy equipment like dump trucks, bulldozers, road sweepers, and steel drum rollers," McLaughlin said. "They make sure that debris is cleared away from the drains. Also, they are the ones who place the barriers around base whenever there is an emergency or exercise."

In addition, when trees around base are torn up from a storm, the section will be called in afterwards regardless of the time or day to pick up the broken branches, clear fallen trees and perform other similar duties to clean up the base.

Another way that the operations flight takes care of Shaw's grounds is by keeping it pest- and weed-free, which the entomology section is in charge of.

"They are bug killers," Whitehorn said. "They spray herbicides and pesticides to control the weed population and kill bugs, rodents and things of that nature."

The areas that fall under entomology's responsibility include not only Shaw but also Poinsett Range and the Wateree Recreation Area in S.C.

Entomology doesn't just spray herbicides and pesticides. They also take care of stray animals on base.

"When we find a stray animal, we will trap it and either release it into a safe environment or turn it over to a shelter in the area," said Whitehorn.

The water and fuel system maintenance section is another part of the flight and, because of the Airmen's duties there, it is also known as the plumbing shop.

"They take care of all the water and natural gas breaks and monitor the water on base to make sure it is clean to drink," McLaughlin said.

"They also make sure the (sewage) pipes are working properly and maintain the entire underground sewage system," Whitehorn added.

The water, gas and sewage pipes are not the only things the Airmen take care of. In addition to being in charge of the natural gas distribution system, they also maintain the fuel storage tanks and dispensers at all the service stations on base where vehicles get gas.

The last section that composes the operations flight is the energy management control systems. The flight uses an electronic control system that monitors natural gas and electrical power usage.

All eight sections work together to support operations on base.

"We are like a big huge family," Freeman said. "I have friends in every single section. Just the camaraderie makes it an amazing job."

There are other aspects of the job Airmen said they enjoyed in addition to the camaraderie.

"I love my job," Freeman said. "I grew up watching my dad do (this job), and I knew I was going to do it. I like the gratitude people show whenever you build something or do work for somebody. It makes me feel good to do my job and make me want to do the best that I can."