Civil engineers participate in training that helps others

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Scott Mathews
  • 916th Air Refueling Wing
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. --  Editor's note: For pictures related to this story please visit the 916th Homepage, 916 ARW Photo Stories.

As the morning sun was rising over the Nevada mountains, about 30 civil engineer troops stood in formation for the posting of the colors.

This is how everyday began for the 916th Civil Engineer Squadron on a recent trip to the Washoe Indian Reservation in Carson City, Nev.

During June, the 916th CES had two rotations of about 30 people each to help the Washoe tribe by building a community center, setting up a pre-fabricated home for a deserving family, forming and pouring concrete sidewalks, installing underground water and sewer lines, grading roads, hanging sheetrock, installing electrical wiring, plumbing and HVAC ducts and wiring and many other construction and repair projects.

The 916th CES was one of 11 groups to participate in the Innovative Readiness Training Program for this year.

"The entire project will last from April through September and the groups do two week rotations," said Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Woody, IRT project manager.

The program is designed to train reservists from all over the country while at the same time helping the Washoe Indian Tribe community.

"The primary mission of this year's project is to build a community center for the Washoe tribe," said Chief Woody.

The center will be approximately 4,000 square feet and will be built entirely by Air Force Reserve units.

Senior Master Sgt. Geoff Percival, who will be heading up the IRT program after Chief Woody retires, said the Reserve has an outstanding relationship with the Washoe Tribe and the local community.

" There is no question that they are thankful for what we are doing," said Sgt. Percival.

The members from the 916th had many different career fields doing various jobs all over the reservation.

"The training is great for all of us. It trains us on some things and keeps our skills sharp on others," said Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Newcomb, utilities system superintendent.

It's nice to see our troops get the hands on training and it's great to see the 916th CE demonstrate what they can do and learn," added Sgt. Newcomb.