Air National Guard unit helps build new sports complex

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Clark Staehle
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Team Mildenhall broke ground recently on a new sports facility with the help of a unit from Iowa. 

The 132nd Civil Engineer Squadron is helping with the construction of three gazebos, according to Master Sgt. Peter Djordjevic, 132nd CES. The squadron will lay the brick foundation while they're here. 

While it may seem strange to some people to send a squadron halfway around the world to help with a base construction project, there are reasons for it. 

"The program that sends units abroad to work is known as duty for training," said Master Sgt. Jimmy Roberts, 132nd CES liquid fuels maintenance NCOIC. "The 132nd Fighter Wing is an Air National Guard unit, so working here gives us the valuable experience of working with an active duty unit. This can come in handy if we are called up for a deployment." 

Another reason to bring a unit from America is it allows the unit to work together as a team. 

"Not only is it beneficial for us to come here, but it benefits Mildenhall as well," Sergeant Roberts said. "It allows the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron to work on projects that are more essential to the mission." 

When finished, the complex will be located behind the Hardstand Health and Wellness Center located in Building 849. It is slated to include: 

--  Two softball fields. They will be built to replace the fields at Ford Park that are scheduled for demolition. The two ball fields will also combine to make a football field.
--  A running track around the perimeter of the new complex.
--  A multipurpose court which can be used for basketball, volleyball and more.
--  A Playground for children. 

The new structure is a part of a quality-of-life initiative that has been in the planning stages for several years, said Maj. Matt Kovich, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Operations Flight commander. 

U.S. Air Forces in Europe recently gave Mildenhall $60,000 to use for quality-of-life improvements. That allowed project leaders to begin the project ahead of schedule.
While not all the facilities at the complex will be built at once, the gazebos and a softball field will be. 

The rest will be built as more money becomes available, Major Kovich said. 

"It makes us feel good because it's a useful addition to the base, and the troops and their families stationed here will get to use it for years to come," Sergeant Roberts said.