114th Civil Engineers participate in Innovative Readiness Training

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Stewart
  • 114th Fighter Wing
DELMONT, S.D. --  The 114th Civil Engineer Squadron deployed 19 Airmen to Delmont S.D. for an Innovative Readiness Training request, Oct. 4, 2014.  IRT's provide real world training opportunities for our service members to prepare them for their war time missions while supporting the needs of America's underserved communities.

Recently, the city of Delmont S.D. was ravaged by strong storms that left the city covered in debris from downed trees, power lines, and buildings.  The city of Delmont did what it could to move debris to designated areas in town, but did not have the equipment necessary to move the debris out of town.
 
"If communities need help they can request assistance from the National Guard through an IRT project," said Master Sgt. Gordon Haldeman, 114th Civil Engineer Squadron Operations Superintendent. "Units with the ability to help can volunteer and use it as a training exercise."

"We are cutting debris left from a strong summer storm," said Senior Airman Cody Reece, 114th Civil Engineering Squadron. "We have a lot of people out here, who know their equipment and are ready to help."
 
Once cut up, the debris was loaded into military dump trucks and hauled to a local landfill where it will be burned.

"The storm was pretty bad," said Shirley Weisser, owner and operator Delmont Steak House. "The guard helping us cleanup is nice and greatly appreciated."