ALUKSNE, Latvia - Forty members of the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing Civil Engineering Squadron (CES) deployed to Latvia in August to refurbish a high school in the town of Aluksne about 13 miles from Latvia's border with Russia.
The wing members worked alongside Latvian Army engineers to demolish existing equipment and install 84 windows before handing it off to a North Dakota Air National Guard unit to install 43 additional windows. The Airmen worked under the supervision of a civilian Latvian contractor to learn the local building standards and the processes required to retrofit the four-story building, which is nearly a century old.
"Having only one task of replacing windows can make the job tedious, but [the CES] always comes to work hard once we get in that groove," said Maj. Heidi Gibson, field commander for the 163rd Airmen who deployed for the exercise. "Projects seem to come together, and before you know it, the two weeks are up and you can stand back, see your efforts and enjoy the sense of accomplishment of a job well done."
The Airmen's work will provide the Latvian students with thicker glass and double panes, putting a buffer between them and the harsh winters of the region. With the new windows, students will also have the ability to open the windows and let in fresh air.
"Looking at your faces and your smiles, we believe this joint effort will succeed and we will be able to start the school year in a newly renovated building," school Principal Diana Dubre told the workers.
Despite some of the Airmen deploying for the first time, coordinating efforts with the Latvian Army proved to be a seamless process.
"Part of the success came from sharing quarters and mixing the teams together," Senior Master Sgt. Andre Kreil said. "Instead of having American and Latvian teams, they just molded into one, giving all of us a chance to get to know these people on and off the job."
Working alongside the Latvian Soldiers was no different from any assignment back home, Senior Airman Jarrett Smith said.
"We teamed up with a great bunch of Latvian Army engineers," he said. "Once you get over the language hurdles, it becomes like any job site where everyone is working to get the best finished product."
Work on the historic school building was important to the local populace. The structure is named after Ernst Gluck, a prominent figure in Latvian history who translated the bible into Latvian.
"The town members conveyed a sense of pride for the building because it was built during a time of non-occupation, making it a truly Latvian construction - now with a little help from us," Gibson said.