435th CTS completes humanitarian project

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Mooney and 1st Lt. Kay Nissen
  • 435th Air Ground Operations Wing
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  A 435th Construction and Training Squadron engineering team recently completed a humanitarian-assistance renovation project in the country of Georgia.

The nine-member team of four different Air Force specialty codes hailed from CTS's military construction flight, which is responsible for humanitarian and exercise related projects throughout Europe and Africa.

"Being assigned to the MCF is probably the best assignment a CE craftsman could ever have," said Master Sgt. Michael Shaffer, 435th CTS MCF superintendent. "We travel and build with an 18-man team, one day you may be laying tile, then paving a road the next."

The MCF renovated 10 restrooms at a kindergarten in Tbilisi, Georgia. The restrooms were in poor condition with aged tile falling from the walls, inoperable toilets and sinks and no running hot water.

Beginning April 7, the team spent 54 days in country for the humanitarian project. The Airmen installed 25 new sinks and toilets to replace old fixtures. They re-tiled the rooms, textured and painted the walls, installed new windows and doors, replaced old plumbing, and added water heaters to each room along with newly rewired light fixtures and receptacles.

"It was very rewarding seeing how excited the children were to see the new restrooms," Staff Sgt. Marcus Brooks, 435th CTS electrical journeyman. "They even performed a ceremonial dance to say 'thanks;' I almost teared up a little."

The MCF completed additional renovations to improve the school. One of the most significant extra tasks was the replacement of three improperly wired, and dangerous, electrical panels. By replacing these panels, the Airmen helped to mitigate the fire hazard from overloaded circuits which lacked proper overcurrent protection.

"The work that we did at the school benefited the more than 380 students that attend the kindergarten by helping to give them a safer school environment to learn in," said Shaffer. "As we came to the close of our project, the school put on a short concert and show, performed by the students, to show their thanks and gratitude."


Team members included:
Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Mooney
Staff Sgt. Aaron Miller
Staff Sgt. James Procaccini
Staff Sgt. Dorsey Sirmans
Staff Sgt. Clifford Daniel
Staff Sgt. Marcus Brooks
Staff Sgt. Aaron Yocum
Staff Sgt. Aaron Harrington
Airman 1st Class Frank Batac