McGuire deployed engineers return home
"Welcome back GIs, we're awfully proud of you," said Col. Charles Smiley, 305th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, after a slew of whistles and cheers from the more than 140 family members, friends and coworkers who met the troops as they stepped off the bus.
"This is not a 'U.S. versus the world' war, this is a war of civilization against the bad guys," said the commander. "I'm very proud of you all for what you did and the roles you played, both you and your families, in defending those freedoms. I'm proud of you all, the standards you all set and will continue to [set in future deployments]."
While deployed, McGuire engineers teamed with Air Force engineers from other bases, Navy Seabees and other allied military forces to stand up a bare-base operation in support of OEF.
Some of their accomplishments were:
- Setting up 180 Temporary Personnel Shelter tents in the first five days at the deployed site;
- Constructing operational tent facilities;
- Renovating and repairing existing facilities;
- Installing generators;
- Constructing and installing more than 50 wooden tent floors in flood-prone tents and nearly 2,500 feet of wooden boardwalks throughout the tent city;
- Providing support to various squadrons in the form of laborers, truck drivers and fork lift operators;
- Building a 4,000-square-foot "mini-mall" including a gym, recreation center, library, post office, e-mail express and much more.
"This was my first real-world deployment, and I wouldn't trade in this experience for anything," said Airman 1st Class Ezra Holley, a 305th CES structural apprentice. "We did a lot of quality-of-life improvements for the entire base, and it felt really cool knowing we had a direct impact on the mission. [We were gone] a long time, but I think it was totally worth it."
During the deployment, the squadron, along with the family support center's Hearts Apart program, provided numerous services to the families, said 2nd Lt. Donna Silva, 305th CES section commander.
"The squadron was very supportive and kept us informed about what was going on around base and also how the troops were doing," said Sharon Warren, wife of Tech. Sgt. Bradley Warren. "I can't say enough about the Heart's Apart program here. The car care class is really great, and my 7-year-old daughter, Alyssa, and 5-year-old son, Tyler, enjoyed going to the breakfasts and dinners."
(FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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