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35 CES makes tent city feel like home

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marcus Morris
  • 7th Air Force Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Augmentees completing a 12-hour shift during Exercise Key Resolve 2014 return to tent city looking forward to a nice hot shower, a place to unwind and a warm place to sleep. Thanks to the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron from Misawa Air Base, Japan, all have the comforts of home.

The 35 CES is responsible for construction, maintenance and repair of approximately $8 million in assets to include 24 tents, 14 storage containers, three K-spans, three latrines, 76 Environmentally Controlled Units and two water buffalos.

"This facility has been used several times before, so we had to reconstruct a lot," said 1st Lt. John Kulikowski, 35 CES officer in charge of tent city. "Our job is to make sure [tent city] what we lovingly call Emerald City, due to all the green tents, is ready and maintained for the incoming augmented forces."

Less than a month ago, Rush Park was nothing more than a few K-spans, hardened restroom facilities and cement pads. Now, it is home to more than 700 joint personnel here to take part in Exercise Key Resolve and Foal Eagle 2014.

To get tent city ready for incoming forces, the 35 CES repaired and replaced 24 exterior and 35 interior lights, disposed of 5,033 hazardous items, and five tons of waste, provided potable water for tent city and organized $20,000 in materials and tools.

"In a wartime situation, many forces will deploy to a location," Kulikowski said. "This exercise keeps local participants current on training and tests our ability to respond to incoming forces."

Efforts to enhance the quality of life in tent city include more than 35 light carts setup outside to keep augmentees safe while walking at night, more than 66 ECU installed, wireless Internet access, computers, movie checkout and a snack bar.

"We setup and maintain tent city during the exercise to provide the augmented forces some creature comforts when they get off work," said Master Sgt. Robert Shelt, 51CES structural craftsman. "We make sure people have a place to sleep, rest, relax and be ready to fight tonight."

After Exercise Key Resolve 2014 is completed, 35 CES will hand over the keys to Emerald City to the U.S. Marines during Exercise Foal Eagle, who will eventually tear it back down for next year.