Work horses

Airman 1st Class Anthony Abreu, of the 823rd Red Horse Squadron, tosses a shovel-full of asphalt back into the paver June 20 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The two-month paving project of the Combat Shield compound was a redesign of the roads in and out of the compound to allow for large haulers to maneuver and exit with ease. Most of the planning and all of the labor were performed by Red Horse Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Work horses

The Red Hats of the 823rd Red Horse Squadron spread out the newly poured asphalt at the Combat Shield compound at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., June 20. The two-month paving project by the Hulburt Field Airmen changed the layout of the roads in and out of the compound to allow for large haulers to maneuver and exit with ease. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Work horses

The Red Hats of the 823rd Red Horse Squadron scoop up asphalt at the Combat Shield compound at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., June 20. The two-month paving project by the Hulburt Field Airmen changed the layout of the roads in and out of the compound to allow for large haulers to maneuver and exit with ease. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Work horses

The Red Hats of the 823rd Red Horse Squadron spread out the asphalt that the paver puts down at the Combat Shield compound at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., June 20. The two-month paving project by the Hulburt Field Airmen changed the layout of the roads in and out of the compound to allow for large haulers to maneuver and exit with ease. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Red Horse Airmen pave the way

Published June 26, 2012
By Samuel King Jr.
Team Eglin Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Steam poured off of the newly poured asphalt, shovels scrapped and clanged over heavy machinery as they continuously plunged into the hot black goo and sweat dripped from around dirty red hats, June 20.

Approximately 20 "red hats" from the 823 Red Horse Squadron poured, spread and paved a new driveway and parking lot for the 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron's Combat Shield facility, here.

The 823rd, from Hurlburt Field, took over this two-month project and is expected to complete it June 29. The project was a complete change to the roads entering and exiting the facility to help Combat Shield's haulers move in and out with ease.

Combat Shield is a mobile electronic warfare assessment program for all combat aircraft EW systems. Combat Shield teams travel across the U.S. and overseas to provide operational units a system-specific capability assessment for their radar warning receivers, electronic attack pods, and integrated EW systems. Their systems and equipment are stored in large haulers that driven from base to base.

The redesign creates an entry and exit point that allows for wide-turning vehicles. Before, the facility had a single-point of entry and exit with a very sharp turn to exit, according to the Senior Master Sgt. Robert Fraley, the Combat Shield superintendent.

The paving project was a perfect fit for the Red Horse Airmen.

"For most of my crew, this is their first paving job," said Tech. Sgt. Ron Weymer, NCO-in-charge for the Combat Shield construction. "This provides them with hands-on training at home, so if we deploy and have to build a road we can do it."

The Red Horse team didn't just spread the asphalt and operate the machinery. The Airmen, who know what it's like to turn and maneuver large vehicles, offered design suggestions to the original plans to assist the 16th EWS drivers and save the Air Force money, according to Weymer.