35th CES clears the way
By Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield , 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
/ Published January 22, 2012
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MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – A frontend loader equipped with a plow pushes snow into a pile in base housing Jan. 19. The 35th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Snow Control Shop anticipates snowfall of approximately 125-200 inches this year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)
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MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – A frontend loader fills the bed of a 10-ton truck in an effort to clear a parking lot Jan. 19. The 35th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Snow Control Shop operates three shifts, keeping the snow removal process moving around-the-clock. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)
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MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – A 10-ton truck off-loads collected snow at the dump area Jan. 19. Each driver will make approximately 50 trips to the dump area each shift. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Phillip Butterfield)
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MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – A 10-ton truck heads to Falcon Drive to collect another load of snow Jan. 19. Each truck can hold approximately 10-tons of material. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt Phillip Butterfield)
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --
A crew of part-time professionals led by a handful of crusty veterans is all that stands between mission success and a cold white coffin.
The 35th Civil Engineer Squadron's Snow Control Shop anticipates snowfall of approximately 125-200 inches this year; this is enough to bury an F-16 Fighting Falcon on the 35th Fighter Wing ramp and effectively stop all movement on base.
However, the snow control shop's sole purpose is to keep the snow from clogging the runways, roads and parking lots, keeping the mission and people moving.
"We are the best at what we do," said Tech. Sgt. Reginald Athouriste, 35th CES SCS NCO in charge of swing shift. "When the snow hits, my team scrapes, scoops and hauls a path to mission success."