U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Building Strong, Serving the Nation and the Armed Forces, 2020-2021

Page 123

plentiful, readily available, and within the distance necessary to place the concrete. She said in addition to the need for an adequate water supply for construction, the team is also dealing with soil issues: The area is riddled with collapsible soils. “Extensive rains and flooding cause minerals to leach from the soils, causing the ground to collapse. All construction will require mitigation to alleviate this type of soil from the project site,” McCarthy said. “This means that all unstable soils must be excavated to a depth identified in the contract, removed from the construction site, and backfilled with suitable structural soil and compacted to a specific density to ensure the structural stability of both the taxiway and aprons, but [also] the buildings’ foundations as well.” Besides having to find basic construction materials, there are other “from-scratch basics” that the USACE team must work through for a build site in Afghanistan versus working on a construction site in the states, including “long lead times, delivery, and access,” according to USACE construction representative Tony Soliz, who managed the construction site from the time of the site survey to when the project was finally turned over. “Our construction specifications are written to both U.S. and European construction codes,” said Soliz. “Many of the complex systems [e.g., generators, HVAC systems, etc.] cannot be sourced from within the country but have to [be] ordered and delivered from other countries. Delivery of equipment and materials comes via land, sea, and/or air, depending on which country they are coming from. Long-haul, overland travel can come through the northern countries surrounding Afghanistan so delays at the international borders can be extensive. Once in Afghanistan, travel within the country can be dangerous, fraught with checkpoints, IEDs [improvised explosive devices], and bad guys.” Finally, Soliz said access onto an Afghan military base can require hours or days depending on the base security.

“Concrete can only stay within a concrete truck for about 90 minutes from the plant to the project site before it starts to harden and becomes unusable for the project,” Soliz said. In case it isn’t readily apparent, the Afghanistan District team and the contractors hired to construct the infrastructure all live and work in an active war zone. According to Soliz, safety and security are of utmost importance and aren’t taken lightly by anyone working construction in the country. “Due to the inherent dangers associated with simply traveling within Afghanistan, USACE personnel are not able to oversee construction on a daily basis, so our local national quality assurance representatives [LNQAs] oversee it for us,” Soliz said. “Our LNQAs are Afghan citizens hired to be our eyes and ears on a project site. They know the Afghan culture, can speak the language, and can easily transmit information to and from the construction team.” The work done by the LNQAs is truly remarkable because they are in danger going to and from the project site on a daily basis, and they are placed in further danger from having known affiliation with the coalition forces. However, Soliz said they understand the risks, but they are gaining valuable experience from working for USACE. “When they come to work for USACE, we train our LNQAs on our construction and turn-over procedures. They gain valuable skills in our processes, three-phase inspections, testing, and all construction categories, such as earthwork, concrete, electrical, plumbing. This on-the-job training will provide them with knowledge of construction should they seek employment with other companies. That is yet another way the Afghanistan District continues to develop capability within the country for future infrastructure stability,” he said. The estimated cost for the facilities is approximately $43 million, but the buildings and the work being done are priceless for the AAF pilots and support personnel who will occupy the new facilities, as well as for the LNQAs who will be able to use their experience for future jobs once the AAF aviation project is completed. n

MIDDLE EAST DISTRICT BUILDS STRONG DURING PANDEMIC BY JOE MACRI, Middle East District

R

egional turmoil and change have been a constant for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Transatlantic Middle East District (TAM). With well over $6 billion in projects covering the entirety of U.S. Central Command’s (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, offices in different time zones spread out over 11 countries, and some of the most unforgiving construction environments in the world, district personnel thought they had seen and met every challenge thrown their way. And then COVID-19 hit. “Our mission requires a great deal of close coordination with a lot of different entities,” said Col. Philip Secrist, TAM’s commander. “Most USACE districts are used to working with state and local governments.

One of our Foreign Military Sales cases requires us to coordinate with the State Department, Department of Defense, foreign governments, and their corresponding military leaders. Additionally, we’re sometimes working with non-U.S. contractors who might not be used to our way of doing things. Many of our projects are critical to the national security of the nations we’re working with, so when the pandemic hit, we needed to make sure we could not only continue our work, but continue it safely.” The country of Qatar, where TAM is constructing missile defense infrastructure among other programs, is but one example of those efforts. When the country restricted movements on non-essential 119


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION

2min
page 66

416th THEATER ENGINEER COMMAND Answering the call to serve during COVID-19 pandemic

4min
pages 158-160

412th THEATER ENGINEER COMMAND

5min
pages 156-157

249th ENGINEER BATTALION (PRIME POWER)

3min
pages 24, 154-155

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FINANCE CENTER

3min
pages 136, 153

MARINE DESIGN CENTER MANAGING PROCUREMENT OF DREDGE FOR AZERBAIJAN

3min
pages 64, 152

OFTEN, THE QUESTION ARISES: “WHAT DOES AVIATION HAVE TO DO WITH LOGISTICS?” THE ANSWER IS: “A LOT MORE THAN YOU THINK!”

5min
pages 150-151, 162

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS INSTITUTE FOR WATER RESOURCES

2min
pages 148-149, 163

LOCATION MATTERS

4min
pages 130, 146-147

A PART OF THE SOLUTION: HUNTSVILLE CENTER'S RESPONSE EFFORT TO SAVE LIVES

16min
pages 2, 6, 140-145

ERDC RESEARCHERS TACKLE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS

4min
pages 137-139

ERDC RESEARCHERS IMPROVE NUMERICAL MODELING FOR POST-WILDFIRE FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT

4min
pages 134-136

ERDC ANSWERS THE COVID-19 CALL

5min
pages 56, 132-133

U.S. ARMY ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER

1min
pages 7, 132-133

TASK FORCE ESSAYONS PROVIDES CRITICAL ENGINEERING SUPPORT

4min
pages 129-131

POWERING UP A COUNTRY, ONE TOWER AT A TIME

12min
pages 125-130, 163

MIDDLE EAST DISTRICT BUILDS STRONG DURING PANDEMIC

6min
pages 13-14, 123-125

FINDING THE SCRATCH BEFORE STARTING FROM SCRATCH

5min
pages 8, 122-123

TRANSATLANTIC DIVISION LEADS THE WAY IN CONTINGENCY SUPPORT

8min
pages 2, 4, 6, 8, 118-121

TRANSATLANTIC DIVISION

1min
pages 24, 32, 38, 118-121

PROCESSING THE FUTURE IN A PANDEMIC WORLD

2min
pages 75, 117

FINDING CONSTRUCTION ALTERNATIVES

3min
pages 4, 115-117

ENGINEERING CENTER’S EXPERTISE ENHANCES U.S. INDO-PACIFIC REGIONAL PRESENCE

3min
pages 112-113, 138

HONOLULU DISTRICT CONDUCTS 43 SITE ASSESSMENTS

3min
pages 8, 111-112

DISTRICT PROVIDES TECHNICAL SUPPORT DURING CONSTRUCTION OF ROK F-35A FACILITIES

5min
pages 38, 109-110, 116

ALASKA DISTRICT CONVERTS ARENA INTO ALTERNATE CARE SITE

1min
page 108

ALASKA DISTRICT DELIVERS FACILITIES TO SUPPORT F-35A AIRCRAFT ARRIVAL

5min
pages 106-108, 128, 130

PACIFIC OCEAN DIVISION

4min
pages 104-105, 107, 114

SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT BIOLOGISTS WORK TO PRESERVE ENDANGERED SALMON

3min
pages 13, 102-103

BUILDING AN URBAN RANGER PROGRAM

4min
pages 2, 4, 98-101, 138, 162

SACRAMENTO DISTRICT DELIVERS DESPITE COVID-19 CHALLENGES

4min
pages 96-98, 136

RAPID COVID-19 RESPONSE IN THE HIGH DESERT

5min
pages 93-95, 130, 138

SOUTH PACIFIC DIVISION

2min
pages 92, 99

WALLA WALLA DISTRICT DEVELOPS FISH SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS IN THE NORTHWEST

3min
pages 90-91, 136

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Building Strong, Serving the Nation and the Armed Forces, 2020-2021

3min
pages 89-90, 114

SPEED KEY TO BONNEVILLE LOCK REPAIR

3min
page 88

RESPONSE, RESTORATION, RESEARCH: REBUILDING MISSOURI

7min
pages 24, 32, 84-87

OMAHA DISTRICT SIMPLIFIES ITS CONTRACTING PROGRAMS

3min
pages 20, 83-84

NGA WEST PROJECT MAKING PROGRESS DURING COVID-19 CRISIS

2min
pages 4, 81-82

NORTHWESTERN DIVISION RALLIES TO COMPLETE MASSIVE COVID ASSESSMENT EFFORT

4min
pages 56, 79-81, 116

NORTHWESTERN DIVISION

2min
pages 78, 85

CONSTRUCTION OF KC-46A CAMPUS AT TINKER REMAINS ON TASK DESPITE PANDEMIC

2min
pages 77, 128

FLOOD OF 2019 AFFECTS MKARNS NAVIGATION

1min
pages 76, 114

TULSA DISTRICT SUPPORTS OKLAHOMA COVID-19 RESPONSE

1min
pages 74-75

OZARK-JETA TAYLOR’S SLANT-AXIS TURBINE REHAB

5min
pages 2, 72-73

DISTRICT EMPLOYEES ENLISTED FOR COVID-19 MODELING TASK FORCE

2min
pages 70-71, 80

PROVIDING SITE EVALUATIONS FOR ALTERNATE CARE FACILITIES

2min
pages 38, 69-70, 163

SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION EXECUTES HURRICANE HARVEY SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAM

4min
pages 2, 13, 67-68, 163

EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECTS TO AFFECT NORTH CAROLINA FOR DECADES

3min
pages 63-65, 162

DMCAS: SAVANNAH’S SOLUTION FOR PLACING DREDGED MATERIAL

3min
pages 14, 62-63

SAVANNAH HARBOR DEEPENING

3min
pages 6, 59-61

MOBILE DISTRICT NEARS COMPLETION OF SHIP ISLAND

3min
pages 8, 57-59

ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION FOUNDATION PROJECTS BRING WATER TO EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

3min
pages 55-57

PENINSULA STUDY DRAWS SWEEPING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

2min
pages 53-54, 116

SOUTH ATLANTIC DIVISION

1min
pages 52, 58

VICKSBURG DISTRICT EMPLOYEE RECEIVES NATIONAL ENGINEERING AWARD

2min
pages 51, 86

USACE, SAMARITAN’S PURSE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP STORM SURVIVOR

4min
pages 49-50, 128, 130

DISTRICT CONVERTS HOTEL INTO HOSPITAL WITHIN DAYS OF REQUEST

4min
pages 46-48, 80, 136

ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT SUPPORTS DERECHO RECOVERY EFFORTS ACROSS IOWA

2min
pages 44-45, 138

CONSTRUCTION REACHES NEW HEIGHTS ON RED RIVER OF THE NORTH PROJECT

3min
pages 42-43, 114

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY DIVISION

4min
pages 40-41, 46

WORKING AS ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL IN A COVID-19 ERA

3min
pages 37-39

NASHVILLE DISTRICT RESPONDS TO A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

2min
pages 36-37

TEAM EFFORT MAKES WAUGOSHANCE POINT TARGET PROJECT A SUCCESS

3min
pages 35-36

BLUESTONE DAM: THE FINAL PHASE

2min
page 34

DETROIT DISTRICT RAPIDLY RESPONDS TO MICHIGAN’S CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

2min
pages 31, 33

CHICAGO DISTRICT CIVIL WORKS REALIGNMENT

1min
pages 31-32

CHICAGO DISTRICT’S “OPERATION ENDURING HEALTH”

4min
pages 29-30

THE GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE

3min
pages 27-28

GREAT LAKES AND OHIO RIVER DIVISION

4min
pages 26-27

DISTRICT’S BRIDGE INSPECTION AND EVALUATION TEAM REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

3min
pages 23, 25, 160

FROM THE MID-ATLANTIC TO CANADA, FORESTERS MANAGE UNIQUE ARMY PROGRAM

3min
pages 21-24

NEW YORK DISTRICT CONSTRUCTS “STEAM” TEACHING SCHOOL

2min
pages 19-21

DESPITE COVID-19, USACE HITS 10-MILLION MILESTONE IN BOSTON HARBOR

3min
pages 8, 18-19

USACE HELPS OPEN CENTER FOR WOUNDED WARRIOR CARE IN REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA

2min
pages 17, 163

DISTRICT’S RADIOLOGICAL TEAM PROVIDES EXPERTISE THROUGHOUT USACE AND BEYOND

5min
pages 6, 15-16, 162

USACE PROVIDES A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX COVID-19 PROBLEM

4min
pages 2, 4, 11-12, 14, 162

NORTH ATLANTIC DIVISION

1min
pages 3, 10, 12-13
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.