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File: aacep_42.txt
42
kept the bases operating. ~ planning assumption had been that in
a major deployment, Engineering and Services forces and the
aircraft from a particular base would deploy together. Therefore,
the support requirements at the home base would be reduced and the
CONuS sustaining force, primarily civilians, could operate and
maintain the base and feed and billet the people. For the most
- a,
Mexico' and Scott AFT, Illinois' Gent large grime BEEF and RIBS
teams, but did not deploy their al~craft, or deployed only a
portion of thelr assigned aircraft. This meant that the support
forces had to plek up the slack. Some bases went to twelve-hour
shifts, others used contractors, and some brought in reservists.
Firefighters were kilt the hardest and reservists provided
invaluable service as backfills at these bases. At Shaw AEB' the
temporary workers used in the Hurricane Hugo cleanup were scheduled
to be released about the time the engineers deployed. Col Thomas
a, ~ ~ Cal ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~s
military engineers deployed to Al Dhafra ABE.
labile only five Base Civil Engineers deployed in response to
the Gulf War, twelve Services squadron commanders deployed. This
meant that the civilian deputies remained with the unit to maintain
the Services functions such as billeting and food service. For
bases with food Gervice contracts, the contingency clause was
invoked' expanding the level of contract operations. Some bases
such as Langley Age, experienced an increase in billeting and food
service demands just as most of the military members of the
squadron deployed. TDY personnel working Desert Shield/Desert
Storm issues on Langley stressed the base billeting system.
Reservists helped backfill the positions and keep the system
operating.
Operation Desert Storm.
Operation Desert Shield was an Engineering and Services show.
They had bedded down thousands of people and hundreds of aircraft
across three continents. Engineers provided the living and working
facilities to enable Air Force personnel to accomplish their
mission Services personnel had exceeded the Air Force standard
for food service. Prime BEEF and RIBS teams had assisted
commanders in maintalulng the morale of the forces by providing
comfortable living conditions and those few extras that made the
desert more tolerable. They had prepared the bases for war and
were prepared to recover the bases if attacked. Preparatlons were
complete to ensure the avallablllty of essential services such as
, a, a, ~ a.
provided the platform to enable Air Force pilots and weapon systems
to carry out their mlsslon. They had set the stage for the pilots.
At CENTAF/DE, the staff could tell the air war had begun
because the phones ringing. The days up to 17
January had been hectic as bases made last minute preparations and
the staff worked to ensure that K~MC would be ready. Suddenly, the
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