JBER Conducts Operation Clean Sweep

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Omari Bernard
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  More than 1,000 personnel, with the total force of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, came together to conduct Operation Clean Sweep, May 5 through 9, on JBER.

The operation spanned the entire joint base, to include highways adjacent to the installation. Soldiers, Airmen, and civilians, wearing reflective vests or belts, worked together to pick up trash to make an impact on the cleanliness and appearance of the installation.

"When melt-off comes, everything looks like a landfill," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Austin, 773d Civil Engineer Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of roads and grounds. "It's that time of year when we collect all the trash that collected under the snow during the winter months."

Operation Clean Sweep supported and is part of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce's 46th Annual Citywide Cleanup Campaign May 3 through 10.

"Operation Clean Sweep is a joint endeavor between the Army, Air Force, and Anchorage Municipality," said Air Force Master Sgt. Shaun Menard, 773d CES noncommissioned officer in charge of payments and equipment. "Every unit and organization on JBER has their own specific area of grounds maintenance they are responsible for and will have to coordinate."

Menard said units and organizations used orange bags donated by the municipality of Anchorage to pick up trash. The 773d CES supplied dumpsters to key areas across the installation to aid trash removal.

"They knew where to pick up bags, identified points of contacts, and took care of their areas of responsibility," Menard said. "Roughly, we're looking at more than 5,000 pounds of trash collected."

Austin said the operation brings out the pride of the installation.

"We haven't had to tell anyone to re-clean their areas," Menard said. "We're professionals; we suit up every day and set the standard for the community."

Menard said even though the operation went well, there is still room for improvement.

"Can it be improved?" asked Menard. "Yes. That's the Air Force culture; everything is always in a continuous process of improvement. The cleanup effort doesn't just stop in one week. If you see something unsightly stop and pick it up, or call the appropriate agency to dispose of it."

As part of and partner to the Anchorage community, JBER's Operation Clean Sweep corresponded with the Anchorage Citywide Cleanup to promote a joint sense of community and partnership to get the mission done. The results of the operation impressed the 673d Air Base Wing and JBER commander, Col. Brian Duffy.

"Thank you all for the Herculean effort of literally thousands of people within our total force team to clean up more than 12,000 facilities and public spaces on JBER," Duffy said. "The installation looks great. Coming together as a community allowed for another great success, and I thank you again for your continued efforts to make JBER a great place to work, live and play."