JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
More than 17 inches of snow fell on Joint Base Andrews in 2009 during "Snowmageddon." In its wake, several area businesses and base units were inoperable for days. Despite the record-setting weather, the Andrews flight line was the only airfield in the National Capital Region to remain open through the storm. Because of their preparation, Andrews' snow removal team was able to clear the flight line and ensured its no-fail presidential support mission continued despite the conditions.
This year, the 11th Civil Engineer Squadron snow removal team is once again gearing up to face winter weather. According to accuweather.com, conditions for winter 2012 in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. are forecasted to be "snow" joke. 14.6 inches of snowfall are predicted to land in the NCR alone this season.
Heeding this warning, members of the 11th CES's horizontal shop, along with 22 additional 11th CES snow-removal augmentees, came together Oct. 15-19 to complete pre-season snow-removal training. The mandatory training focused on the base's no-fail flight line mission and the urgency the team would need to clear it from snow.
The group also focused on the specifics of each piece of Andrews' flight line snow-removal equipment and retrained on everything from snow blowers to plows.
"For the first few days, we mainly focused on the equipment used on the airfield and the flight line's roadways and taxiways," said Airman 1st Class Thomas Rowan, 11th CES horizontal shop pavements and equipment technician. "During training we familiarize ourselves with everything from operation checks to vehicle controls. We want to be as prepared as we can before snow hits."
Many snow-removal team NCOs who led the training had first-hand experience during record-breaking storm. While stationed on Andrews, Staff Sgt. Mario Turner, 11th CES heavy equipment operator and snow-removal training instructor, had at one point seen Andrews' flight line blanketed under three feet of snow. Drawing from his snow experiences, Turner helped fellow snow-removal team members garner the confidence they need to successfully operate Andrews' heavy snow-removal equipment.
"The NCOs teaching this training are very experienced," said Rowan. "They know the equipment and the snow procedures very well. Nothing can train you better than operating the equipment in the actual event. That's why learning from these NCOs, who've all been through several snow storms, is so beneficial."
As colder temperatures begin to surround the installation, team members remain on-call and ready to assemble within moments. Nights before forecasted flurries, personnel arrive to work hours before precipitation hits, standing ready to move as soon as the first flake falls. Additionally, while the team's main job is to clear the flight line, contracted civilian snow-removal crews stand ready to clear the base's roadways as soon as possible.
"If there's a forecast for snow, we're already waiting for it," said Turner. "Training like this has been very beneficial for me as well as the rest of the team. These Airmen have been attentive and I'm confident that if snow hits Andrews this year, we'll be able to clear it without any problem."