Published: June 13, 2006
Airmen of Red Horse Squadron Complete Successful Rotation
Sgt. Waine D. Haley, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
TIKRIT, Iraq (June 12, 2006) - The Air Force does more for theArmy than provide air support - when the Air Force's Red Horse Squadron gets involved, the Army's entire living and working conditions improve.
Staff Sgt. Brandon Matz, a Structural Engineer from Great Falls, Mont., digs a trench to lay electrical cable for new housing units at Contingency Operating Base Speicher.
U.S. Army photo: Sgt. Waine D. Haley |
The 219th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer is simply known as Red Horse Squadron. While the squadron is deployed, their unit designation is 557th Red Horse; the number designation is changed because the squadron's Airmen are from multiple units of active duty Air Force and Air National Guard. The 557th is a squadron unique to Iraq.
The Airmen of this unit have a six-month rotation in Iraq. They arrived on Christmas Day last year and have completed 28 projects as their rotation comes to a close.
"We've completed over $3.5 million in projects," said Maj. Ryck Cayer, commander, 557th. He added his team has performed "nothing short of outstanding … this is a great group of (Airmen)."
This group of Airmen improved the working and living conditions at Contingency Operating Base Speicher and Forward Operating Bases Razor and Olson. All of the bases had living quarters improved and additional quarters added.
Senior Airman Matthew McLendon, an Electrician from Hobson, Mont., installs a circuit-breaker box for a new housing unit on Contingency Operating Base Speicher.
U.S. Army photo: Sgt. Waine D. Haley |
"They (FOB Razor and Olson) have really seen the value of our mission." Cayer said. "We improved the FOB's kitchens, added CHU's (Containment Housing Units) and shower units. The Soldiers there really gained a respect for our Airmen."
The most extensive work was done at COB Speicher - with the repaving of the airfield and the construction of 10 multiple housing units, the Red Horse Tactical Operation Center and four hanger-type buildings that can be used as workshops or warehouses, all built from the ground up.
As the Airmen of the 219th leave Iraq, the Airmen of the 823rd Red Horse Squadron will step in to take their place in the 557th and will inherit the $3 million worth of projects that are ongoing.
The 557th is scheduled to deactivate within the next 15 months, giving them a total of five years activation in Iraq.
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
Staff Sgt. Josh Florea, Structural Engineer of Lincoln, Neb. is constructing one of 10 new housing units on Contingency Operating base Speicher.
U.S. Army photo: Sgt. Waine D. Haley |
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