Renovations on base - UPDATE

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Haas
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  [Editor's note: The previous version of this article contained an error concerning the upgrades at the Office of Special Investigations. The construction project was designed to ensure adequate storage space is available for OSI. This project was not due to a security violation as previously written.]

The installation is located in a remote and isolated area of the country, and because of this, residents place more importance on their on-base programs and facilities than many other installations. But how do these areas stay up to date? Who renovates them and keeps everything running in top condition?

The 5th Civil Engineer Squadron is responsible for a lot of the maintenance that goes on at this base. Specifically, the squadron's structures section maintains facility components like walls, windows, locks, doors, gates and floors.

Some of the current projects they are working hard on include Darbyland at Roughriders Pizza and creating a space for the First Sergeants Pantry inside of Treasure Island.

The construction at Darbyland consists of removing a set of double doors and placing a wall in its place. The team is also removing the doors that lead to the storage room and casing the opening in oak. They are also installing a drop ceiling in the old storage area to create more usable space.

"We constructed a 4-foot by 1-foot by 71-foot wall with two custom-made double swing doors," said Tech. Sgt. Corey Brown, 5th CES Structures Maintenance Sites Team NCO in charge. "The wall is double-plated and twice as wide as a standard wall in order to provide stability and safety from potential impacts. It has been trimmed in oak for aesthetics. The purpose of the renovation is so that the area will be split for designated dining space and a play area."

Craftsmen working on it are Dale Meinert, Maury Krebsach, Staff Sgt. Tiffany Caramella, Senior Airman Dustin Shepersky, Airmen 1st Class Justin Koenig, Gary Keim, Carl VanLandingham, and Bryon Fortun. This project will take approximately three weeks to complete.

The construction of the First Sergeant's Pantry in Treasure Island is another CE project in the works.

"At the First Sergeant Pantry, we are erecting a 14 by 12-foot wall so the First Sergeants can better secure their food and emergency items," said Brown.

Craftsmen on this project are Staff Sgt. Tiffany Caramella, Airmen 1st Class Justin Koenig and Gary Keim. The project took approximately one week to complete.

Additionally, the structures shop is working an Office of Special Investigation project to meet spacing requirements for increased evidence seizures and to ensure adequate storage space for sexual assault evidence retention.

Also, the Metal Section just completed 24-hour operations to install a new overhead tail door in Dock One.

"This was a major repair due to mission critical bomber maintenance that could not be accomplished until we replaced that door," said Brown. "We had to work in 12-hour shifts to complete the door install and minimize the dock's exposure to the weather. Immediately upon completing this install, our team began 24-hour operations to install a brand new overhead door on the south bay of Building 1119."

It took the team approximately one week to complete both installations. Both of these jobs were being tracked at the major command level. The team lead was Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cutaiar with the craftsmen being Barry Grindberg, Tech. Sgt. Justin McGovern, Staff Sergeants Matthew Chaney, Derek Hays, David Booth, Senior Airmen Daniel Cummings, Kyle Neininger, Jacob Blankenbaker, Airmen 1st Class Brandon Link, Matt Matoskey, Joseph Mecca, and Airman Juan Acevedo.