When Jack Frost comes knocking, CE jacks-of all-trades knock back

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Come sleet, snow and ice, whatever the environment can throw at the northernmost U.S. air base in Japan, a crew of civil engineer jacks-of-all-trades are ready to keep the mission moving.

Airmen from the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron band together with Airmen of the pavements and heavy equipment shop to remove snow from roads and the flightline ensuring that Misawa's demanding mission to protect U.S. interests in the Pacific and assist in the defense of Japan goes unhindered.

"If we weren't here to remove the snow, the planes wouldn't be able to fly," said Staff Sgt. Adrian Wilson, 35CES pavements and heavy equipment operator. "The base would probably also be closed because no one would be able to get to work."

The P&HE Shop monitors and clears 76 square-miles of roads and taxiways using 119 different pieces of equipment ranging from large rollover plows to small Bobcat tractors.

Last year, the shop hauled 7,000 truckloads, totaling 70,000 tons of snow during the season.

"This year we're expecting 125-240 inches of snow," said Sergeant Wilson. "We would have been hard pressed to clear last year's snow or this year's expected amounts without the help of our fellow augmentors."

P&HE call upon the other shops in CES such as heating and air conditioning and structures for extra help during the season.

"Being able to help the snow removal crew is a great opportunity," said Airman Ronald Volner, 35 CES structural apprentice. "It lets me get out of the shop and learn a different skill set. Working with P&HE allows me to drive different vehicles and use different tools that I don't normally get to use or see in the structures shop."

Some of the equipment used for snow removal is complicated to use, but the P&HE Airmen train the augmentors, Airman Volner added.

"I'm very proud of the Airmen I have working for me," said Sergeant Wilson. "CES has some of the best Airmen. Our augmentors are fast learners, and I can count on anyone of them to get the job done."