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CE paves way for JB MDL

  • Published
  • By Airman Sean Crowe
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIR-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The 87th Civil Engineer Squadron Snow Control members worked around the clock to clear the layer of snow on the McGuire flightline and the roads Nov. 8 here.

Snow Control used an array of equipment, including plows and blowers, to ensure the base's mission carried on despite a thick layer of snow left by the nor'easter that hit the base Nov. 7. Leadership requested "tier 1" Airmen, the largest tier, report to snow control for 12-hour shifts comprised of plowing, shoveling and readying equipment.

"An 87th Operations Support Squadron weather forecaster will inform Snow Control of any projected snowfall to allow us preparation time," said Tech. Sgt. Martin C. Faulkner, 87th CES assistant-noncommissioned officer in charge. "The snow officer, or SNOF, then identifies the areas of priority to be plowed. The mobility mission demands the highest priority, so we end up plowing the runways and ramps first."

Aircraft have to be staged prior to the snowfall due to the precedence of the mission; but, other areas on the base, including the roadways, are also a priority to ensure mission effectiveness.

The streets are cleared immediately after the flightline is completely plowed, said Faulkner.

Snow Control is responsible for ensuring everybody is able to get around base. This makes the shop a very high demand for personnel and manpower.

"My shop, Horizontal Repair, works 24 hours a day to clear the snow," Faulkner said. "We will continue working until the snow is cleared. Today is a warm day which means clearing the snow will only take about two days. Melting snow is much easier to move than frozen snow."

The snow removal is quite the process, although the Snow Control troops say they are remaining resilient through the task.

"We spend more days being productive than not," said Senior Airman Patrick Burleson, 87th CES heavy equipment operator. "Our whole purpose here is to ensure mission continuity. We owe a lot of our success to the leadership of Lt. Col. Matt Benivegna, 87th CES commander. We don't fail; we succeed."