Arctic Reserve engineers team with Soldiers and Sailors to break ground for Boy Scouts’ Summit site

  • Published
  • By Air Force Maj. Lisa Reaver
  • 477th Fighter Group PAO
BECKLEY, W. Va. --  Arctic Reservists from the 477th Fighter Group recently returned from an historic training mission supporting Joint Task Force - Summit, laying the foundation for the future home of the National Boy Scout Jamboree here.

During their two-week annual training mission in Beckley, 22 Air Force Reservists combined efforts with Navy Reserve Seabees and West Virginia Army National Guard engineers to break ground on this project which has been in the works for years.
The Summit site was a flurry of activity with heavy equipment of all types working in concert to accomplish tasks as small as clearing brush to jobs as big as hauling tons of rock to spread on new roads.

"This was some of the hardest work we had ever done, but we all came together as a team and know that our hard work will pay big dividends for the kids that come here," said Maj. Mark Goodwin, team leader for the 477th Civil Engineer Squadron.

The Reservists literally moved mountains as they cleared 48 acres with excavators and dump trucks. During brush clearing operations, they recycled trees by turning them into wood chips for irrigation around the new roads being installed in the area.

Reservists also built silt fences out of posts, chain-link fencing and geotextile fabric and gravel check dams to catch and divert water, protecting roadways and foundations from erosion.

"Many of our Reservists worked outside their normal career fields and trained on equipment they rarely have the opportunity to use at home station," said Lt. Col. Mike Forcht, 477 CES Commander. "Having those additional folks trained and capable is a good thing for our unit at home and especially in a deployed environment."

All but one of the Air Force Reservists that traveled to Beckley were traditional Reservists, meaning they have full-time civilian employment and train one weekend a month and two weeks a year with the Reserve unit.

"Employer support from the local community is critical to the success of a Reserve program and the Anchorage community has been outstanding in their support of our folks," said Col. Bryan Radliff, 477th Fighter Group commander.

As one of the first teams in to start the work, this Arctic Reserve team had the satisfaction of knowing they got in on this massive project on the ground level and they are already planning to return to help finish the job.

The overall Summit plan will develop over 250 acres of raw earth and 15 miles of roadway alignment and road bed improvement.

Additionally, in the coming years, units will build more than 70,000 square feet of stick-frame structures that will incorporate green technology.

JTF-Summit officer-in-charge, Army Capt. Leonard Nida said in 2011 JTF-Summit is anticipating more than 500 service members from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines to complete this joint project.

According to the Boy Scouts of America website, they are expecting more than 45,000 scouts, leaders and staff to attend the first-ever National Boy Scout Jamboree at Summit Site in 2013.