Augmentees train for snow removal

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tammie Ramsouer
  • JBER Public Affairs Office
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The 773rd Civil Engineer Squadron augmentees began training on snow removal equipment here Sept. 28.

"Snow school" is an annual three-week training event hosted by the 773rd Civil Engineering Squadron heavy equipment shop. The shop teaches snow removal augmentees how to operate heavy equipment used during the winter months to remove snow and ice from roads and flight lines on JBER. Students learn how to safely use the equipment and perform necessary maintenance.

"We show the augmentees how to change parts on some of the heavy equipment," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Hughes, 773rd Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment operator. "We show them how to operate motors, dump trucks, bobcats and other heavy equipment."

For this year's augmentee program, there were 24 individuals chosen from different career fields in the 773rd CES to help with snow removal throughout the winter months.

"The augmentees have been assigned by their superintendants within the 773rd CES," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Derek Frisky, 773rd CES noncommissioned officer in charge of roads and grounds cleaning. "Our shop sends out a message to superintendents

within the 773rd CES notifying them that we need volunteers for the year's winter snow removal."

The heavy equipment shop receives a list of augmentees and makes the training
schedule just before the snow starts to fall.

This year's augmentee manning was higher due to a loss in the civilian workforce.

"Our shop's manpower is down by approximately 30 individuals this year, which makes the augmentees vital to the snow removal team," said Frisky.

One significant change in the snow removal augmentee program this year is volunteer's permanent duty status throughout the winter.

"This year we have augmentees for the entire winter as opposed to last year," said
Frisky. "Last year we trained our augmentees and had them on a stand-by basis."

The stand-by system for the team was in place on a case-by-case basis with augmentees being called for assistance when snow fell. Frisky said that with the heavy equipment shop now operating on a full time eight hour shift, it makes the snow removal simpler and faster.

"Augmentees always help us complete the mission to help keep the air field clear and
the streets clean so base populous can get to work safely during the winter," said Frisky.