SEWARD, Alaska – Members of the Connecticut National Guard’s 103rd Civil Engineer Squadron, or CES, conducted training in Alaska this summer as part of the National Guard Bureau’s Deployment for Training, or DFT, program, gaining hands-on experience while completing construction, electrical, infrastructure and building enhancement projects.
More than 30 Airmen worked for two weeks in June on the campus of Seward Military Resort in Seward, Alaska, and nine Airmen worked with active-component counterparts in the 773rd Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage.
The DFT program allows Air National Guard civil engineer units to travel around the country to gain experience. The 103rd CES routinely participates in the readiness initiative, giving Airmen opportunities to maximize practical training during a two-week period.
Located 125 miles south of Anchorage, Seward Military Resort is a recreation facility available for rental to members of the U.S. armed forces and their families. As the first of several units in the DFT program to rotate through the resort this year, 103rd CES members began the project by demolishing a lean-to addition that would later be rebuilt. The structure, part of a supply building that housed machinery, was unable to withstand Alaska’s immense winter snow loads.
“We’re able to be really adaptive here,” said Capt. David Pohl, a civil engineer officer and the officer in charge of this year’s training. “With this environment where we aren’t as constrained on time as we might be on a drill weekend, we’re able to give members the opportunity to try new tools and new machinery.”
After completing demolition of the lean-to and clearing the debris, Airmen prepared the site for the delivery of construction materials and the next DFT rotation’s rebuilding efforts. Additionally, CES Airmen assisted with a wide variety of electrical and minor infrastructure projects around the resort, improving the safety and reliability of facilities that serve the resort and the military community it supports.
“I love things like this,” said Airman Margaret Taylor, an electrical systems specialist with the 103rd Civil Engineer Squadron. “When we’re here, it’s awesome; you’re constantly learning new things and you also get the opportunity to do other jobs that aren’t your own. That’s my favorite part.”
Supporting the DFT mission in Seward, Services Airmen assigned to the 103rd Force Support Squadron prepared and served meals from a mobile kitchen trailer throughout the week. Led by Tech. Sgt. Aisha Chang, the team delivered efficient, high-quality meal service that kept Airmen fueled and on-site, maximizing the time available for training and project completion.
Meanwhile, nine 103rd CES Airmen specializing in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, and water and fuel systems maintenance worked alongside the 773rd Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The Airmen completed installation work orders across the installation, ranging from heating, ventilation and air conditioning maintenance to responding to a sewer line blockage with specialized equipment. Working within Alaska’s challenging climate also exposed the team to the seasonal demands that repeated freezing and thawing can place on underground utility systems.
By troubleshooting real-world maintenance issues alongside their active-component counterparts, 103rd CES Airmen strengthened their technical skills and gained experience working with infrastructure challenges they may not routinely encounter at their home station. Across both locations, the DFT gave 103rd CES Airmen opportunities to apply their skills, work alongside new teams and build readiness through projects with lasting value.
“This is the heart of what CE does,” Pohl said. “The more hands-on work we can do, and the more we can go out and experience new, unique things … it only expands our capabilities.”