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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Staff Sgt Dominic Koah, 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE water fuels system maintenance craftsman, shovels dirt and concrete away from a construction site June 27, 2017, in Southwest Asia. Working through extreme heat and high winds members of RED HORSE construct pre-engineered buildings vital to the expansion of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and its operational capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)RED HORSE shapes 332nd AEW, future
                        
                        
                        Staff Sgt. Dominic Koah, a 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE water fuels system maintenance craftsman, shovels dirt and concrete away from a construction site June 27, 2017, in Southwest Asia. Working through extreme heat and high winds members of RED HORSE construct pre-engineered buildings vital to the expansion of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and its operational capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)
                
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        Staff Sgt. Jackie Timmons, 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE structural craftsman, adjusts a laser level to ensure construction is started on the proper elevation June 27, 2017, in Southwest Asia. The squadron provides engineering services throughout the Air Force Central Command area of responsibility, inside and outside the wire. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)RED HORSE shapes 332nd AEW, future
                        
                        
                        Staff Sgt. Jackie Timmons, a 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE structural craftsman, adjusts a laser level to ensure construction is started on the proper elevation June 27, 2017, in Southwest Asia. The squadron provides engineering services throughout the Air Force Central Command area of responsibility, inside and outside the wire. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)
                
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        Airmen assigned to the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE hold a vertical column in place as it is being secured June 27, 2017, in Southwest Asia. The squadron is tasked with constructing a new 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing mission support industrial complex and life support area, to include facilities, utilities and roads, providing the wing with increased capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)RED HORSE shapes 332nd AEW, future
                        
                        
                        Airmen assigned to the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE hold a vertical column in place as it is being secured June 27, 2017, in Southwest Asia. The squadron is tasked with constructing a new 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing mission support industrial complex and life support area, to include facilities, utilities and roads, providing the wing with increased capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)
                
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        Airmen from the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE put up a steel frame of a building June 27, 2017, in Southwest Asia. RED HORSE provides self-sustaining engineering operations in assessments, planning, programming, design, heavy construction and repair capabilities, offering flexible options to theater commanders to leverage mission sets that would otherwise not be available. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)RED HORSE shapes 332nd AEW, future
                        
                        
                        Airmen from the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE put up a steel frame of a building June 27, 2017, in Southwest Asia. RED HORSE provides self-sustaining engineering operations in assessments, planning, programming, design, heavy construction and repair capabilities, offering flexible options to theater commanders to leverage mission sets that would otherwise not be available. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)
                
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        Staff Sgt. Christopher Sword, 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE water fuels maintenance system craftsman, adjusts his eye protection gear June 2017, in Southwest Asia. Working through extreme heat and high winds members of RED HORSE construct pre-engineered buildings vital to the expansion of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and its operational capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)RED HORSE shapes 332nd AEW, future
                        
                        
                        Staff Sgt. Christopher Sword, a 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE water fuels maintenance system craftsman, adjusts his eye protection gear June 2017, in Southwest Asia. Working through extreme heat and high winds members of RED HORSE construct pre-engineered buildings vital to the expansion of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and its operational capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Damon Kasberg)
                
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RED HORSE Airmen battle heat, darkness to shape futurePublished July 14, 2017
                    
                    By Senior Airman Damon Kasberg
                    
                    
                    332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
            **SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --**On a construction site at the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, all five senses are constantly bombarded. The sun scorches every inch of uncovered skin. Gusting winds kick up sand and dirt, making it difficult to see. Deafening machines saturate the air with the smell and taste of fumes.
For members of the 557th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, better known as RED HORSE, this is an average day at work.
These Airmen, charged with large-scale projects, handle some of the toughest construction jobs in the Air Force, inside and outside the wire.
“Our engineers are accomplishing incredible feats by constructing the next 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing operating location,” said Senior Master Sgt. Martin Pitre, the 557th RED HORSE superintendent. “Every phase in constructing a pre-engineered building is present on one construction site. This is a rare occurrence when craftsman can engage in all phases of building construction from start to finish.”
In the morning, a convoy arrives to the site. Airmen pile out, grab their gear and get to work. It’s early, but the sun and temperature are quickly rising. By noon, empty water bottles are scattered across the site as Airmen attempt to stay hydrated in the heat.
“You’re just dirty all the time,” said Tech. Sgt. Adam Wright, the 557th RED HORSE project manager. “When the wind is out with the heat if feels like you’re in a dryer. Your body gets tired pretty quickly. It can be a challenge, but you have to keep on pressing to get the job done.”
There’s a certain point when the heat is deemed unbearable and unsafe to work outside. It’s at that point when the RED HORSE Airmen are told to call it a day. But everyone knows there’s a schedule to maintain. A handful of Airmen are tasked to work a night shift, when the temperature drastically changes.
“It’s 65 degrees out here at night, not 110, and that makes everything better,” said Staff Sgt. Shannon Beavin, a 557th RED HORSE structural craftsman. “Our leadership gives the project managers free reign to get in our hours. Since we can work safely at night, with all the lights and equipment we have, it actually speeds up the operation for us because of the temperature difference.”
With floodlights beaming down, a group of Airmen work into the night, putting up steel frames for what will eventually be a civil engineer shop. It’s one of many structures the squadron is charged with building over the coming months, enhancing mission capabilities throughout the area of responsibility.
“We’re doing good work,” Beavin said. “We’ll have nine of these buildings complete by the time we’re done with our rotation. Everyone is working hard, they’re all trained up and doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”
Before the first ray of sunlight creeps over the horizon, their shift comes to an end. The sound of machinery whines down and lights shut off. The once-illuminated scene is pitch-black as the Airmen put the construction site behind them.
They return to their living areas covered head to toe in a fine layer of dirt, sand and concrete. While this may have been an average day for the Airmen of the 557th RED HORSE, their day's work built the future for the men and women of the 332nd AEW.civil engineer 



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