ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam – The 200th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) Squadron based out of Camp Perry and its detachment in Mansfield, Ohio, is on a deployment for training in Guam.
The Ohio Air Guard squadron is working for the 513th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron as part of the 356th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Group in the Pacific Air Force’s efforts to set the theaters at Northwest Field, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, from March to June.
Northwest Field, a critical location for operations in World War II, is being restored for future operations and emerging global threats.
This will be the first training mission with RED HORSE for Airman First Class Braylon McCoy, pavements and heavy equipment operator assigned to the 200th RED HORSE Squadron. He will serve in a unique role as one of three concrete leads for the construction project at Northwest Field because of his exceptional work ethic and career experience outside of the military.
McCoy, 21, joined the Ohio National Guard after high school and has been a member for almost two years.
“I joined the Air Force because I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself,” McCoy said. “I missed the camaraderie and sense of being on a team like I was when I was playing sports in high school. Joining the military gave me that opportunity to remain a part of a team and to serve.”
McCoy joined RED HORSE because of his interest in construction as a career, and he saw RED HORSE as a perfect opportunity to serve while getting vital training that could translate to the civilian world.
McCoy said those he serves with are an inspiration and credits them for his opportunities in the civilian sector. He said he would not be the person he is today without them.
“The person that has inspired me the most has been Master Sgt. Stober,” McCoy said. “He helped me as a mentor through the whole process, and I am so appreciative of what he’s done for me. He has believed in me and given me opportunities I would never have had if he had not put that trust in me.”
Master Sgt. Tyler Stober, project manager of the Rapid Airfield Damage Recovery (RADR) pad construction and pavements and heavy equipment operator assigned to the 200th RED HORSE Squadron, said McCoy’s hard work ethic and attention to detail were key for making him stand out as an Airman and as a coworker in the civilian sector.
McCoy began working under Stober’s lead in a civilian construction company last year, gaining valuable skills and knowledge relevant to his military career.
“I tell him things once and never have to say it again, he’s like a sponge,” Stober said. “In the six months we worked together, he showed me so much potential that I was able to trust him with learning the foreman side of things. Because of his work ethic, I was able to teach him the scope of a foreman within his first year of being in construction.”
Stober said while McCoy is still young in his Air Force career, he knew he would be a vital asset to the operations in Guam.
“When I first heard we were coming here to Guam, I immediately knew we needed McCoy here,” Stober said.
McCoy does not take this opportunity lightly.
“I feel extremely lucky to be here in Guam,” McCoy said. “It’s not often we get to do projects on this large of a scale. The material we are working on is much different than what we have back in Ohio, so it is good for us to do this now in a training environment before it is needed in a real world situation.”
The project, which is the construction of a RADR training pad, will be a site for Silver Flag, a contingency training function dedicated to continuing and evolving education of more than 13 Air Force career fields from civil engineers to force support personnel. Silver Flag aims to enhance partnerships, promote regional stability and increase engineer interoperability.
As one of the concrete leads for the project, McCoy acknowledges this is not a typical role for an Airman but believes his outside experience and those he serves with will make this project a success.
“It’s definitely added pressure to be in this role, as it typically is not an expectation you’re given as a lower rank,” McCoy said. “I feel pretty good about it. My civilian job has given me a lot of skills you don’t always get if you’re not doing it every day. I feel like I have a more comprehensive understanding of this job being able to be hands-on every day.”
McCoy said one of the most important things he plans to focus on while completing this project is teamwork and trust.
“On a project this size, there is no way you can do it alone,” McCoy said. “It is so important to rely on those above and below you, and we’ve got an incredible crew out here to lean on to get this job done.”
Upon completion, the RADR pad will be used as one of three Silver Flag training sites worldwide, providing a realistic environment for Airmen and allied and partnered nations to train together in a complex region to prepare for evolving threats today and in the future.