'Dirtboyz' rock the mission
By Heidi Hunt, 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
/ Published June 29, 2010
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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - Senior Airman Sehldon Mellott, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment operator, uses the clamshell of the front loader to sift out small debris from larger chunks of asphalt and concrete, Monday. Airman Mellott is part of an elite team known as the "Dirtboyz," taking part in multiple payment and concreting jobs around base. After the piles are sorted a contractor will grind up all the materials and recycle for future use on CES projects.(U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - Master Sgt. Roger Turner, 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron superintendent, levels out an asphalt pile to create more room in the debris yard, Monday. During times of need the 442nd CES augments the 509th CES. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - Airman 1st Class Cody Fletcher, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment operator, carefully arranges the bobcat to pick up a chunk of concrete, Monday. Airman Fletcher is cleaning up the larger pieces of concrete and asphalt and moving them to their designated pile in the debris yard. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - Senior Airman Travis Knighten, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron payment and equipment operator, grinds out tar sealant from the crevices of a parking lot, Tuesday. Repairing the sealant protects the concrete from weather and helps prevent cracking.(U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - Airman 1st Class Logan Thomas, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron payment and equipment operator, pumps hot tar sealant in the cracks of a parking lot to reseal them from future weather wear and tear, Tuesday. The hot tar comes out at roughly 380 degrees so Airman Thomas must wear full-body personal protective equipment to prevent burns.(U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
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WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - Senior Airman Travis Knighten, 509th Civil Engineer Squadron payment and equipment operator, grinds out tar sealant from the crevices of a parking lot, Tuesday. Repairing the sealant protects the concrete from weather and helps prevent cracking.(U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
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Hot tar sealant at 380 degrees fills in the crevices of a parking lot. The process is done as a step to prevent weather damage to concrete and asphalt around base. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Carlin Leslie)
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.