Red Horse goes round two at Dyess

Staff Sgt. Alonzo Marquez, 819th Red Horse Squadron of Malmstrom AFB, Mont., levels freshly poured concrete July 17, 2012, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The poured concrete is for the foundation of a 8,500-square-foot facility that will provide the 7th CES a new logistics building, consolidating multiple facilities used by the squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Peter Thompson/ Released)

Red Horse goes round two at Dyess

Airmen from the 819th Red Horse Squadron of Malmstrom AFB, Mont., level freshly poured concrete July 17, 2012, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The poured concrete is for the foundation of a 8,500-square-foot facility that will provide the 7th CES a new logistics building, consolidating multiple facilities used by the squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Peter Thompson/ Released)

Red Horse goes round two at Dyess

Airman 1st Class Derek Reimer, 819th Red Horse Squadron of Malmstrom AFB, Mont., pours concrete July 17, 2012, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The poured concrete is for the foundation of an 8,500-square-foot facility that will provide the 7th CES a new logistics building, consolidating multiple facilities used by the squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Peter Thompson/ Released)

Red Horse goes round two at Dyess

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick Saccone, 819th Red Horse Squadron of Malmstrom AFB, Mont., levels the edges of freshly poured concrete July 17, 2012, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The poured concrete is for the foundation of a 8,500-square-foot facility that will provide the 7th CES a new logistics building, consolidating multiple facilities used by the squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Peter Thompson/ Released)

Red Horse goes round two at Dyess

Published July 16, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Charles V. Rivezzo
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- For the next few months, Airmen wearing red hats will be seen across Dyess, as 33 Airmen from the 819th Red Horse Squadron from Malmstrom AFB, Mont., are building a pre-engineered building for the 7th Civil Engineer Squadron.

The 8,500-square-foot facility will provide the 7th CES a new logistics building, consolidating multiple facilities used by the squadron.

"This project is the lynchpin in our ability to consolidate all our CE functions," said Lt. Col. Michael Harner, 7th CES commander. "We're spread throughout the entire base, so bringing all of us within the same compound brings synergy, efficiency and energy savings within the organization."

The new facility will cost $695,000, with more than $600,000 being saved by the Red Horse team constructing the building rather than contracting it out.

"These projects have always been a win-win, because not only do we allow our 'horsemen' to come in and get the valuable training they need for their downrange operations, but we save hundreds of thousands of dollars and receive a new facility," Harner said.

This project directly supports the Air Force's energy strategy to reduce the portion of the Air Force's budget used for installation support by 20 percent and reduce the size of the Air Force physical plant by 20 percent by the year 2020.

Overall, these transformation efforts reduce the cost of installation engineering activities in the long term through consolidation and demolition, which frees up resources for the recapitalization of Air Force weapons systems.

"We want to consolidate our footprint and save on energy," said Capt. Nick Saccone, 819th Red Horse Squadron officer in-charge and project engineer. "The Air Force saves a lot of money by consolidating these buildings, and it's all to meet the overall vision of 2020."

Additionally, the project has benefited from the assistance of 20 active-duty Army troops from Ft. Polk, La., and the Texas Army National Guard 822nd Engineer Company who lent Red Horse Airmen several heavy equipment vehicles, driving down the total cost of the project.

"While Red Horse units are in CONUS, participating in troop-training projects is the main avenue we use to keep our Airmen current in their training," Saccone said. "Not only do TTPs benefit our Red Horse Airmen, but this training opportunity also provides our active-duty Army and Guard brethren a great opportunity to train alongside us, allowing Airmen and Soldiers the opportunity to experience completing a project in a joint setting."

"This entire project is a great team effort and a total win-win for CE and Team Dyess," Harner added.

Construction broke ground June 11, and working 6-days a week, 12-hours a day, the Red Horse team is on schedule to complete the PEB by Sept. 18.