Alaska Air Guardsmen wrap up work in Australia

H.E. HOLT NAVAL COMMUNICATION STATION, Australia – Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Liberty, structures superintendent for the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Civil Engineer Squadron, smooths freshly poured concrete for an oil-containment wall here May 14, 2014. Thirty-four Alaska Air Guard members, most from the 176th CES, deployed for three weeks to this tiny outpost in Western Australia to help build a space radar facility to be jointly operated by Australia and the United States. National Guard photo by Capt. John Callahan.

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Alaska Air Guardsmen wrap up work in Australia

HOLT NAVAL COMMUNICATION STATION, Australia -- Tech. Sgt. Abigail Olivares, a utilities and fuels technician with the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Civil Engineer Squadron, brazes copper pipe here May 19, 2014 as part of a construction project at this remote outpost in Western Australia. Olivares was among thirty-four members of the Alaska Air National Guard who deployed here for two weeks to prepare the site to receive a space-radar antenna. National Guard photo by Capt. John Callahan.

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Alaska Air Guardsmen wrap up work in Australia

HAROLD E. HOLT NAVAL COMMUNICATION STATION, Australia -- Tech Sgt. Mark Smith, structures supervisor for the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Civil Engineering Squadron, demonstrates welding techniques to two junior Airmen here May 6, 2014. The three were among 34 Guard members deployed here for three weeks to prepare the site to receive a space radar antenna being relocated from the Caribbean Island of Antigua. National Guard photo by Capt. John Callahan

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Alaska Air Guardsmen wrap up work in Australia

HOLT NAVAL COMMUNICATION STATION, Australia -- Master Sgt. Bryan Spake (left), operations manager for the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Senior Master Sgt. Scott Belyea, the squadron's structures flight chief, maneuver a steel girder into place here May 12, 2014. The pair were among 34 Alaska Air National Guard members who deployed for three weeks to this remote base in Western Australia to prepare it to receive a space radar antenna. National Guard photo by Capt. John Callahan.

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Alaska Air Guardsmen wrap up work in Australia

HOLT NAVAL COMMUNICATION STATION, Australia --Tech. Sgt. Dee Thomas, unit training manager for the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Senior Airman Aaron Brehm, a carpenter with the squadron, paint the side of the radar facility here May 13, 2014. The pair were among 34 Alaska Air National Guard members who deployed for three weeks to this remote base in Western Australia to prepare it to receive a space radar antenna. National Guard photo by Capt. John Callahan.

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Alaska Air Guardsmen wrap up work in Australia: Thirty-four citizen-Airmen return from building a radar facility in remote Western Australia

Published June 6, 2014
By Capt. John Callahan
176 WG/PA

H.E. HOLT NAVAL COMMUNICATION STATION, Australia -- Thirty-four members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176 Wing wrapped up three weeks' worth of work today at this remote military base in Western Australia.

Thirty-one of the 34 deployers were from the wing's 176 Civil Engineer Squadron, with the few support personnel making up the remainder.

"The deployment went very much as we'd hoped," said Lt. Col. Jack Evans, the squadron's commander. "We poured concrete, installed lighting, painted, installed new power circuits and ventilations systems - you name it. It's not easy to get this level of intense, focused training back home."

To maintain a state of readiness, Guard members are required to regularly practice their skills. These types of short, volunteer deployments - called DFTs, or Deployments for Training -- allow the guard members to sharpen those skills while accomplishing real-world work.

In this case, that work involved preparing a building here to receive a space radar antenna which the U.S. Air Force's Space Command is in the process of moving from the Caribbean island of Antigua. Once completed, it will operate under the auspices of Space Command under a joint agreement with the Australian Department of Defense. The radar will be able to accurately track up to 200 objects a day, from satellites and space launches in Asia to "space junk" dropped by astronauts during space walks.

Space Command officials expressed appreciation for the Guard members' effort and results.

"These guys came to work focused and prepared every day," said Air Force Capt. Nathan Smith, the officer overseeing the project. "Right away it was obvious the level of skill they brought to bear. Many of their senior noncommissioned officers are, outside the Guard, professionals in their chosen fields, and it really showed. It was a pleasure watching them mentor the young guys and move the project along."

To save money and provide military personnel with much-needed training, the project for the last 10 months has brought in rotating teams of Air National Guard civil engineer squadrons to do much of the work. The Alaska Air Guardsmen comprise the seventh of eight planned rotations. This approach is expected to help save $20-$30 million off the project's original $70 million cost.