Snow removal keeps mission going year round Published Nov. 25, 2013 By Senior Airman Brittany Y. Auld Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- In the austere north, snow can strike at any time. But, thanks to constant preparation, Minot Air Force Base has a team ready to respond. As soon as one snow season comes to an end, the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron snow removal team starts preparing for the next. Members of the snow removal team get ready for the winter by ensuring all snow removal equipment and supplies are serviceable and on-hand by Sept. 15th of each year. "This includes ensuring materials that have been depleted, are ordered and turning in snow removal equipment to the 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron for the summer rebuild program," said Master Sgt. Matthew Voorhees, 5th CES heavy repair section chief. The snow removal team ensures the mission at Minot Air Force Base is kept running by supporting 840 acres of airfield, 48 miles of fencing, 150 launch facilities, nearly 30 B-52H Stratofortresses, eight UH-1N Hueys and a $4.8 billion infrastructure. A snow and ice control plan, which is approved by the 5th Mission Support Group commander, is established in order to determine what gets plowed first. "Inside that plan it has our priority listing that we go off of," said Voorhees. "Areas are categorized into priority one, two, or three." Snow removal teams hit the ground running, Vorhees said, and don't stop until the job is done. "We repair and replace pavement and provide snow removal operations on 1.8 million square yards of airfield pavement, 2.1 million square yards of base pavement, and 30.1 miles of base roads," said Mr. Hal Tarvestad, 5th CES grounds manager. "This ensures roads are safe for travel and 5th Bomb Wing sorties are on time, every time, with no delays." There are currently 36 military, 15 civilians, and 29 augmentees who support snow removal operations. The augmentees are called upon when snow is forecasted. "During the snow removal season we are a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week operation, which is broken down to three, eight-hour shifts," said Voorhees. "We also have augmentees recalled if we need the extra manning to keep the mission going." One-fourth of an inch of snow has to be on the ground before the snow removal team gets called out. However, as soon as snow hits the ground they proactively go out and periodically check the flight line and roads to stay on top of it. "Whether on the flight line or base side streets, everybody has a job to do and knows it," said Voorhees. "We communicate well with each other, to allow the mission to keep going."