Delaware National Guard - DNG News 2002

Delaware National Guard
Oh, Canada!
Air Guard civil engineers train with northern neighbors
By Tech. Sgt. Kenneth L. Bennett, 166th Civil Engineering Squadron, with contributions from Tech. Sgt. Benjamin J. Matwey, 166th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The 166th Civil Engineering Squadron (CES) of the Delaware Air National Guard deployed 46 members to Canada on August 24 and returned on September 7, teaming up with counterpart engineers from the Canadian Air Force to help complete five projects. The training was with the 3 Wing Air Force in Bagotville, Quebec, nearly 650 miles north of Delaware. The 46 members were picked up by a C-130 out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan.

Canadian and Delaware Engineers working together to pour and level concrete steps.

The purpose of these training exercises is to improve the readiness of North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) engineer forces and to improve interaction among United States and Canadian Forces engineers who are to operate in support of North American Air Defense activities. The training of military engineer personnel provides exposure to the theater of operations, mobility training, exercise command and control, and the opportunity to learn different construction methods and materials. During the normal two-week exercises, each unit will carry out construction and/or maintenance projects at the deployed location. In return the Canadian Engineers deploy to an airbase in the United States for training.

"This was a terrific deployment for our unit. It gave the airman a new insight on the application of a joint exercise with another military organization, " said Capt. Elias Danucalov of the 166th CES. "This was a great experience, the Canadian Engineers treated us great, just as they did the last time we deployed north of our border," added Senior Master Sgt. Ron Marandola.

Tech Sgt. Randy Fisher pushing a wheelbarrow full of wet concrete up the ramp.
Canada’s 3 Wing Air Force plays host to the 425th and the 433rd tactical fighter squadrons, whose primary mission is to provide surveillance and defense of the northeastern sector of Canada. Their primary aircraft is the CF-18 Hornet fighter, and 3 Wing has 1590 airmen and women.

In addition, the 166th CES Firefighters were worked into the day-to-day operations of the Canadian Fire Department.

Much hard work was accomplished, all had fun, and some friends were made. This is a breakdown of the five projects completed.

Project # 1 was the renovation of the interior of the cadet quarters. The paneling and the refinished wood were torn down, new sheetrock was installed, and fresh paint was applied to the walls.

Project # 2 was the renovation of the workout room in the Base Fire House. A doorway was removed and a wall constructed, two extremely large picture windows were installed, an air exchanger with ductwork was installed to include some electric to the unit, and the ceiling was also painted.

Project # 3 was the renovation and expansion of the female restroom into a locker room with a restroom inside the Canadian Engineering Building. A wall was removed and rebuilt in what used to be the mechanical room next to the restroom; this enabled the installation of lockers into the restroom.

Project # 4 was the most interesting because this renovation had to take place in an active alert hangar. The pilots’ rooms needed renovation from top to bottom. This could not take place all at once as the pilots still had a mission to support. Therefore, the renovation took place two rooms at a time, with the pilots relocating to a different room until renovations were complete. New sheetrock and new floors were installed, and every door refinished.

Project # 5 was the repair and replacement of two concrete slabs and the construction of a new sidewalk in front of the Base Firehouse. A new set of steps was also erected in front of the Base Operations building.

The 166 CES personnel who deployed:

· Officer in Charge Maj. Kevin Canning, Maj. Mark Devore, and Capt. Elias Danucalov.

· Senior Master Sgts. Ron Marandola, Bob McVaugh, Sam Field, and Bill Gordy.

· Master Sgts. Henry Tomczyk, Stan Balawejder, Bill Curley, Tom Parisi, Bob Sklodowski, Ben Chudzik, Dave Huntley and Paul Duca.

· Tech. Sgts. Truston Davis, Mike Saunders, Tony Dialessandro, Randy Fisher, Al Fidance, Ken Phillips, Greg Scott, Dan Lord, Gerard Fortmuller, Clinton League, Brian Morris, Mike Caldwell, Dan Lopez and James Knightly.

· Staff Sgts. Alvin Pickney, Mathew Sammon, Ray Brown, Robert M Stewart, Jr., Tom Santabarbara, Mickey Dixon, Paul M. Norris and Tom Dennis.

· Senior Airmen William Catts, Kevin Golden, William Griffith, Mark Pinnock, Robert Fields, Hilton Williams, David Mitchell and Senior Airman Steven Turi.

· Airmen 1^st Class Mike McCarron and Jason Goodsell.

Senior Airman Steven Turi (front), Staff Sgt. Ray Brown and Tech. Sgt. Clinton League help install corner moulding.

For further information on the Canadian Air Force, and 3 Wing, readers can visit their public website, http://www.airforce.forces.ca. The 3 Wing mission, according to the Canadian Air Force, is to participate in the surveillance, protection and, when required, the defense of the North American airspace under the umbrella of the NORAD agreement. As one of two fighter bases in Canada, 3 Wing provides a multi-role deployable fighter force capable of meeting international contingency missions. 3 Wing also provides secondary and, upon request, primary search and rescue for the Quebec Region and Canada in general as well as ordinance disposal operations. 3 Wing is made up of the 425 and 433 Tactical Fighter Squadrons, 439 Combat Support Squadron, 12 Radar Squadron, and 3 Air Maintenance Squadron. The aircraft located at 3 Wing are: CF-18 Hornets, CH-146 Griffon helicopters and CT-133 Silver Stars.