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Red Horse improves runways, housing in Afghanistan

08/08/02 - BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- Before the arrival of the 200th/201st Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron, the airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group here lived in substandard tents and showered with a hose in a roofless, bombed-out adobe building. Just 30 days later, airmen now live in air-conditioned tents and shower in clean facilities, with an added bonus -- hot water.

The construction here is the most visual aspect of the Red Horse, mission; however, their primary task, runway repair, is what helps keep the Air Force flying.

Environmental conditions, bombs, small munitions and lack of care and maintenance have contributed to significant runway damage.

"The condition of the runway is deteriorating rapidly," said Capt. Mike Hrynciw, 200th/201st ERHS detachment commander. "Our original scope of work was to repair 80 slabs out on the runway."

However, Hrynciw added that when they arrived in mid-June, a site survey conducted by the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency increased the number of slabs to 500.

"From day one our scope of work increased by 600 percent," he said.

There are roughly 12,000 11 by 13 foot slabs that make up the runway. Each slab takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to repair.

"In addition to concrete that has failed or cracked, said Hyrnciw, "there are 50 craters, some of which spread across several slabs, and 90 spalls [holes created by small munitions], all of which need to be repaired. Everyday we find new slabs, which means more time and more resources."

Unlike most units based here, the ERHS comes into an area, takes care of business and then moves on to another location. The 200th/201st ERHS, from the Ohio and Pennsylvania Air National Guards, is based at a forward-operating location and then deploys to other locations. More than 280 Red Horse members are working throughout Central Asia and Africa on various heavy construction and runway repair projects.

Currently, only one sire of the 180-foot-wide runway here is being used while Red Horse repairs the other side. It is not uncommon to conduct rapid repair patches on the active runway because of heavy aircraft and high operations tempo.

Tech. Sgt. Peter Nestinger, heavy equipment operator with the 200th ERHS, said that they are able to accomplish small, expedient repairs with a "quick dry" concrete material. This allows the squadron to conduct rapid runway repair with minimal delay to airfield operations.

Although Red Horse in charge of runway repair, this is a coalition effort. The Italian engineers have also been hard at work. Additionally, the material required for the repairs is bought from local Afghan businesses.

Runway repair is a Herculean effort, and when all is said and done, approximately 2,500 cubic yards of concrete will have been used, according to Nestinger.

Besides the runway, Red Horse members, rebuilt the Air Force's housing area. That included building showers and setting up a morale tent. They also are in the process of building another shower facility and a laundry point.

"We tried to improve the quality of life for everybody living here," said Hyrnciw. "There is about 400 Air Force personnel here and they were living in medium?sized general purpose tents and showering in a really horrible place. We tried to improve the morale.

"I think it permeated to everybody -? pilots, maintainers, air traffic controllers, everybody on this whole base," he added. "You make their living conditions a little bit better and they're going to be able to do their job more effectively."

Related Images Tech. Sgt. Gregory Speicher removes rubble from the housing area at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Red Horse had to clear and level the area prior to erecting new tents. The 200th/201st Expeditionary Red Horse rebuilt the tent city in 30 days. (Photo by Capt. Christa D'Andrea)

Members of the 200th/201st Expeditionary Red Horse, working with Italian engineers, pour concrete while conducting repairs on the runway at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. The 200th/201st EHRS squadron has more than 500 slabs to repair before the entire runway can be used.