SOUTHWEST ASIA, July 12, 2017 — On a construction site at an undisclosed location here, all five senses are constantly bombarded. The sun scorches every inch of uncovered skin. Gusting winds kick up sand and dirt, making it difficult to see. Deafening machines saturate the air with the smell and taste of fumes.

For the combat engineers of the 557th Expeditionary Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer, better known as RED HORSE, this is an average day at work.

These airmen, charged with large-scale projects, handle some of the toughest construction jobs in the Air Force.

‘Our Engineers Are Accomplishing Incredible Feats’

“Our engineers are accomplishing incredible feats by constructing the next 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing operating location,” said Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Martin Pitre, 557th RED HORSE superintendent. “Every phase in constructing a pre-engineered building is present on one construction site. This is a rare occurrence when craftsman can engage in all phases of building construction from start to finish.”

In the morning, a convoy arrives to the site. Airmen pile out, grab their gear and get to work. It’s early, but the sun and temperature is quickly rising. By noon, empty water bottles are scattered across the site as airmen attempt to stay hydrated in the heat.

“You’re just dirty all the time,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam Wright, 557th RED HORSE project manager. “When the wind is out with the heat it feels like you’re in a dryer. Your body gets tired pretty quickly. It can be a challenge, but you have to keep on pressing to get the job done.”

There’s a certain point when the heat is deemed unbearable and unsafe to work outside. It’s at that point when the RED HORSE airmen are told to call it a day. But everyone knows there’s a schedule to maintain. A handful of airmen are tasked to work a nightshift, when the temperature drastically changes.

“It’s 65 degrees out here at night, not 110, and that makes everything better,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Shannon Beavin, 557th RED HORSE structural craftsman. “Our leadership gives the project managers free rein to get in our hours. Since we can work safely at night, with all the lights and equipment we have, it actually speeds up the operation for us because of the temperature difference.”

Working Day, Night

With floodlights beaming down, a group of airmen work into the night, putting up steel frames for what will eventually be a civil engineer shop. It’s one of many structures the squadron is charged with building over the coming months, enhancing mission capabilities throughout the area of responsibility.

“We’re doing good work,” Beavin said. “We’ll have nine of these buildings complete by the time we’re done with our rotation. Everyone is working hard; they’re all trained up and doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”