ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE, Va. - Air National Guard civil engineers from across the country are rotating through Assateague Island in support of a months-long deployment for training, where they’re building vital infrastructure while gaining expeditionary skills that directly align with the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment strategy.
Led by Senior Master Sgt. David Ledger of the 210th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) Squadron, New Mexico Air National Guard, and 1st Lt. Allen Wilson, project engineer from the 176th Civil Engineer Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, the project aims to construct 2.5 miles of paved roadway and develop 14 acres of parking on federal land managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service. The new infrastructure will support safe and sustainable access for more than 1.4 million annual visitors to the Assateague Island National Seashore for recreational purposes.
Throughout the project, eight separate two-week rotations of Airmen will support construction activities. Participating units include the 210th RED HORSE Squadron, New Mexico Air National Guard; the 202nd RED HORSE Squadron, Georgia Air National Guard; the 203rd RED HORSE Squadron, Virginia Air National Guard; 200th RED HORSE Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard, which is supporting three separate rotations; the 171st Civil Engineer Squadron, Pennsylvania Air National Guard; and the 185th Civil Engineer Squadron, Iowa Air National Guard.
While many of the Airmen come from the heavy equipment operator—or “dirt boy”—career field, this deployment provides training beyond the scope of traditional job roles. Airmen from a wide range of Air Force Specialty Codes are participating in the project, often stepping into unfamiliar roles to support daily operations. This approach directly supports the Air Force’s Multi-Capable Airman (MCA) concept.
“This DFT (deployment for training) is an example of the AFFORGEN model in action,” said Ledger, referencing the Air Force Force Generation cycle, which prioritizes ready and deployable forces. “We’re not just developing operators—we’re developing Airmen who can function across disciplines and in unpredictable environments.”
From operating bulldozers to managing fuel, logistics or site layout, Airmen are being cross-trained and empowered to support the mission in various ways. The result is not only more capable individuals but a more agile, mission-ready force.
The training environment on Assateague Island also is highly relevant to today’s strategic priorities. With sandy terrain, limited infrastructure and harsh weather conditions, the setting closely mirrors what Airmen may face in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) theater, where agile airfield operations and engineering support are essential in contested, remote areas.
“Most of our home stations are located at well-established airports—you can’t exactly go out and carve roads through natural terrain,” Wilson said. “Here, our teams are working in conditions that simulate real-world expeditionary operations.”
Despite the scale of construction, no areas of the island have been closed to the public. Guardsmen are assisting with traffic control, standing watch at key access points and helping to ensure the safe flow of tourists and equipment across shared bike paths and roadways.
“Public access has been uninterrupted throughout the project,” Wilson said. “That’s a big win for both the mission and the community.”
The project was initially estimated to cost $45 million, but it was restructured. Reducing the scope of utilities to be installed and using military labor brought the cost down to about $17 million. The savings are significant for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which previously spent about $400,000 annually maintaining the area’s eroding access points.
The DFT began in April and is scheduled to continue through July. Project leadership, including Ledger, Wilson, and Tech. Sgt. Haley Suazo, a services specialist with the 210th RED HORSE Squadron, New Mexico Air National Guard, will depart after the sixth rotation. The final two rotations will fall under the direct management of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“This deployment builds something far more important than pavement,” Ledger said. “It develops multi-capable Airmen, strengthens joint partnerships and leaves behind a mission-ready force. That’s the kind of readiness we need for the future fight.”