14 Construction Engineering Squadron (CES) attended Deployment for Training (DFT) in Fort Indiantown Gap, PA (FTIG) on 12-26 May, 2016. The squadron sent equal representation from each of its four CE Reserve flights - 91 CEF Gander, 143 CEF Lunenburg, 144 CEF Pictou, 192 CEF Aldergrove – to conduct training at FTIG. A total of 30 members from 14 CES attended the DFT.
Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG) is known as one of the “Big Three” National Guard training posts in the United States. It has a long history in Pennsylvania dating back to the mid-1700s and was a hub for training during the Second World War. Canadian Military Engineers have been training at “The Gap” for over twenty years.
Three members from 14 CES and a representative from 1 Canadian Air Division (1 CAD) were invited by the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PAARNG) - who were the host for the DFT – to conduct a recce in December 2015. Four American National Guard units attended the recce as well: 121 CES Ohio, 137 CES Oklahoma, 144 CES California and 163 CES California. These units are similar to our Reserve Construction Engineers. The recce included an evaluation of a large 12000 square foot building which was previously being used as the Post Exchange (PX). Its new purpose was to become a large-scale simulator trainer for combat arms training, which is a prevalent training method throughout the post. The second jobsite included a 2400 square foot original WW II building being re-purposed into offices and a large classroom. This site would require a complete demolition to the masonry exterior walls and a full re-build of all utilities and interior. During the recce, it was decided that 14 CES would tackle the WW II structure as its main effort. However, Canadian tradesmen would be augmented to work and assist 163 CES California at the larger site as well.
14 CES took this opportunity to exercise employing their fly-away capability which is made up of an extensive variety of tools and equipment. The entire fly-away kit consisted of four Willards (portable containers) and was shipped out from192 CEF in Aldergrove BC to FTIG Pennsylvania. Due to the nature of the Reserves, the squadron worked hard to meet the schedules of many members working civilian jobs who used vacation time to attend the DFT. 14 CES leadership employed maximum flexibility in booking flights and arrival times for oilsand shift workers in Northern Alberta and Sasketchewan and Reservists who came from various locations so they could attend the DFT.
Upon arrival at FTIG, it was “all hands on deck” for the demolition of the 2400 sf building. The demolition revealed treasures from the 1940s including duty rosters and newspapers and a history of shapes and sizes of beer cans over the decades. Once the dirty work was safely done, the team broke into sections and worked on planning their respective trades – PH Techs, RM Techs, ED Techs and Const Techs. This included: complete Heating and Ventilation( HVAC) work from building ductwork from flat stock to the diffusers and installing the supply air, running all new electrical and rebuilding the panel, installing all new plumbing which required confined space entry. As there were no hard plans, section teams used their experience and adapted their plan with the materials available. This proved to be successful, although materials were a nagging issue, the sections problem solved their way around it with typical Canadian Engineer panache.
As work bottle-necked, members were sent to work with members from California at the larger site on a daily basis. The skill level of the Canadian Construction Engineers became quickly evident as they were comfortable and used to being in technical and leadership positions on the large commercial site. The main site progressed with framing, removal of all electrical, removal of all sanitary lines to main line (which involved heavy concrete cutting and coring in a confined space) and structural upgrades to the hand framed roof. Over the next 10 days the building was unrecognizable as it was modernized with new electrical panels, firewalls built, new flooring, complete new layout of plumbing and the finishing touches of suspended ceilings and wainscoting of the walls.
Although members worked hard they were also able to see areas of the state including trips to New York City, a Philly’s ball game and trips to the many historical sites in the area including Gettysburg. The team completed the structure to 95% complete as the windows were backordered and didn’t arrive in time. The next DFT team from Oklahoma would continue on with the construction of the large site and finish of the new classroom and offices in the WWII building. On the last day of work all tools and equipment were loaded into the Willards which were picked up and began making their way back to 192 CEF. The jobsite was cleaned- up, a proper handover was conducted and the DFT ended with a good smoker with the California team.
With all assets returned and accounted for, members returned to respective units safely, trade skills applied and job completed to the high praise of the customer this DFT was successful and met the intent of 1 Canadian Air Division.
CHIMO!