PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. -- The 911th Civil Engineering Squadron is paving the way, quite literally, for the much larger C-17 Globemaster III. With new aircraft come new responsibilities, and the 911th CES is tasked with transforming the base for the C-130 Hercules to C-17 conversion.
“We build it, maintain it and protect it,” said Master Sgt. Brenda Smith, 911th Civil Engineering Squadron first sergeant. “That's our mission statement and that's exactly what we do. We're very fundamental to the base. There is almost nothing they can't do. It's impressive to watch. They just do so many different things and it's awesome.”
911th CES is critical to the mission because they can provide support to the wing and other squadrons with every day maintenance that help those units function properly. They ensure units can focus on their mission rather than the upkeep of their property.
The conversion has kept 911th CES personnel busy and has been a great opportunity for newer Airmen to get training, she said. They worked on several new jobs that would ordinarily be given to contractors and are completing tasks to help base contractors with projects already underway.
911th CES Airmen completed a handful of these projects during the month of August, including adding a new office in building 300, pouring three concrete pads, repairing the entry to the shooting range, insulating pipe in building 417, removing four dumpster containment blinds, and completing multiple other work orders from unclogging pipes to changing light bulbs.
Building the new office was the most time consuming project, said Smith. In duration, that was the longest project because they had to hang new drywall with the assistance of electricians and the structure shop.
“So that was a nice sized project, but like big wise, I think that was the cement pad,” said Smith. “It took a lot of people out there that day and they worked together very well. It was very neat to see that.”
They were so excited about this tour and about being able to actually work on the base, said Smith. Everyone was doing their annual tour, some were on extra orders and making up unit training assemblies.
Though Airmen occasionally run into challenges or sometimes have issues obtaining necessary equipment, their flexibility and passion is undeterred, she said.
“As long as they have the tools...they can do anything,” said Smith.