22nd CES finishes new alert facility

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Colby L. Hardin
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  It took more than just a few Airmen renovating one building, it took the majority of the 22nd and the 931st Civil Engineer Squadron to complete the new alert facility, Bldg. 1219, here on McConnell Air Force Base.

It took Airmen from six different air force specialty codes 14 weeks, and 21 cubic yards of concrete to finish the job.

"This was an excellent troop training project that displayed how the different trades in the 22nd CES come together as a team," said Master Sgt. Yuvraj Singh, 22nd CES facilities superintendent. "The engineering section spent countless hours creating an outstanding and detailed drawing that guided the project."

The hard work, and what seemed like an endless training opportunity for the Airmen, finally paid off as they completed the renovation on schedule and in time for the grand re-opening Sept. 10.

The construction of Bldg. 1219 is considered the largest project that the 22nd CES has ever had, requiring 10,000 man hours and more than 60 Airmen to complete.

"We worked on more than just this building," said Senior Master Sgt. Clinton Jaynes, 22nd CES operations superintendent. "We also had to renovate another building [in the Robert J. Dole Community Center] so that the 22nd Aerospace Medical Squadron bioenvironmental shop would have a place to work out of."

The construction was used as an opportunity to train as many new Airmen as possible, with the more experienced craftsmen and journeymen passing on years of experience. This allowed the squadron to complete the entire project with in-house personnel and equipment.

"This was not only meant to train the newer Airmen, but most of us who worked on the building have never had an opportunity like this before," said Jaynes. "In almost 20 years I have never been a part of something of this scale."

The new alert facility provides personnel with rooms to stay in overnight cutting down response time significantly when called upon.

"All of the feedback that I've received has been about how great of a job the Airmen did," Jaynes added. "This has been the biggest project in the 22nd CES history, and it's a rewarding feeling knowing that we could help train Airmen while we completed it."