134 civil engineers bolster Korea’s infrastructure and readiness

Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea — Airmen from the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 134th Civil Engineer Squadron completed a two-week rotation supporting the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron from June 3–17, focusing on base infrastructure upgrades, preventive maintenance and integrated training to bolster mission readiness.

The Tennessee-based team took part in a rotational effort pairing Air National Guard units with active-duty counterparts for improvement projects and hands-on training across the installation. 134 CES Commander Maj. Travis Vaughn praised the unit’s performance and cross-shop integration. “They’ve done that flawlessly. It’s really good training, said Vaughn. “We’ve got some good integration across the shops from our fire department to our craftsmen to our emergency managers coming out to Indo-Pacific Command at Kunsan Air Base, and I couldn’t be more proud of the team and how they’ve stepped up and worked with each other.”

Crews advanced work on Wolfpack Park—additional housing for rotating personnel—where timelines are critical to keep follow-on teams on schedule. Airmen completed ceiling demolition and replacement totaling 1,450 square feet and installed 3,000 square feet of roof restoration to enhance weather protection and durability.

Water and Fuel Systems Maintenance, Heavy Equipment, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and Electrical shops closed out more than 50 work orders during the rotation. Combined with Fire Protection, Engineer Assistant and Utilities, the squadron logged 2,365 total hours of service time in Korea, freeing active-duty engineers to concentrate on their core mission. “Any time we can get assistance from the Air National Guard and reserve units, we look forward to that,” 8th Civil Engineer Squadron Facilities Superintendent Justin Trivett. “It helps us be able to focus on our mission but also is a great training opportunity between us and our guard counterparts to see how each other operate and how we can integrate our shops. We learn a lot from each other in these projects.”

Teams repaired structures, upgraded electrical systems and executed preventive maintenance aimed at reducing future equipment issues. While infrastructure work progressed, 134 CES firefighters augmented the base fire station’s manning and completed aircraft rescue and firefighting training, conducting simulated passenger rescues while suppressing fires to keep emergency-response skills sharp. “This training is really important because we get to work together with another fire department and sharpen our skills,” said 134 CES Fire Protection Craftsman Technical Sgt. Clayton Proctor. “When we end up in a deployed environment we can now work in cohesion and with each other more easily.”

Airmen cited valuable, real-world experience from operating heavy equipment and leading projects that translate directly to future missions. “We learned so much on this project, ” said Airman First Class Jackson Brock, 134 CES Pavements and Equipment Journeyman. “ Having the opportunity to operate larger machines like the bulldozer and grater while practicing our trade overall, just makes us better.” “These opportunities allow the younger troops to step up and take leadership roles, ” said 134 CES Structural Craftsman Master Sergeant Matthew Webster. “ This training shows their abilities and how they can grow as an Airman and as a leader.”

With this rotation complete, the next team headed to Kunsan will build on the progress made, applying technical skills in an operational environment to strengthen readiness and the ability to respond to missions at home and abroad.