'Dirtboyz' rock the mission

  • Published
  • By Heidi Hunt
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Rain, shine or snow, Airmen from the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron, can be spotted rolling-out various heavy equipment to ensure the Whiteman mission is completed.

Commonly referred to as "Dirtboyz," in view of the fact they're frequently covered in dirt and concrete, heavy-equipment operators are trained to operate various pieces of equipment including backhoes, bulldozers, compactors, excavators, dump trucks, sweepers and paving machines, to name a few.

"Our mission encompasses a multitude of in- and outdoor-construction tasks," said Tech. Sgt. Fredrick Denne, 509th CES horizontal section NCO in charge. "Our primary mission is to maintain infrastructure roads, fence and air field pavements as well as equipment to various units around base."

The jobs of these pavement and equipment specialist include asphalt and concrete to support CE projects according to Sergeant Denne.

"We also coordinate and help remove snow from base roads and the flightline; assist with the majority of foreign object debris removal; and maintain the entire perimeter fence," said Sergeant Denne.

The group of 22 Airmen have a running list of on-going and finished missions in their shop.

Some recent projects include: pulling of concrete pads on the flightline to reduce bird strike, repairing hazardous concrete around the Whiteman Security Forces building sidewalks and pouring the concrete foundation for the fire department training tower.

"One of the larger projects the "Dirtboyz" have done this year is build a 50,000 square-foot-skeet range that was opened in April," said Master Sgt. Keith Lockard, 509th CE heavy repair superintendant. "These Airmen were able to work through the winter, when snow removal allowed, and opened the range this spring. It takes a unique attitude to constantly be exposed to freezing temperatures and still complete the mission."

Mentioned are only a fraction of what the dirtboyz carry out on a daily basis, as they have their hands in many projects, base-wide.

"We also installed the speed humps and tiger teeth; with the assistance of the Structures Section of CE, as part of an anti-terrorism project just inside the base gates," he said. "We make a great impact on other squadron's mission - as well as our own."

Sergeant Denne said he couldn't image working with another group in the Air Force.

"These Airmen can work a 12-hour shift removing snow and then be asked to repair 450 feet of fence, and they will do it willingly, without complaint," he said. "In my opinion, they are the hardest working people on this base."

In addition to their work ethic, Sergeant Denne said there is great camaraderie in the shop.

"The members here are like a second family, and we know each other's spouses, as well as their children," he said.

Sergeant Lockard concurred, "The shop really takes care of its own, every year they have Thanksgiving and Christmas feast, and set-up a rotation for yard maintenance for the family of deployed members."

According to Sergeant Denne, the team's unity, physical and mental challenges leads them to be the driving force behind the foundation of the Whiteman mission.