U.S., ROKAF engineers participate in airfield damage exercise

TAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Republic of Korea Air Force Airmen from the 11th Civil Engineer Squadron perform a compaction test during the 2011 Combined Airfield Damage Repair Exercise here Sept. 8. The purpose of the exercise was to enhance interoperability, evaluate capabilities and strengthen combined relationships between U.S. and ROKAF members. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman)

U.S., ROKAF engineers participate in airfield damage exercise

Published Sept. 13, 2011
By Senior Airman Brittany Y. Bateman
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TAEGU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- In the event an airfield is attacked and damaged, U.S. Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force civil engineers are prepared to spring into action and repair the runway in just hours, allowing aircraft to launch and resume their mission.

That capability was put to the test Sept. 8, as more than 20-8th Civil Engineer Squadron members, and 40-11th Civil Engineer Squadron members joined forces here during the 2011 Combined Airfield Damage Repair Exercise, hosted by 7th Air Force and ROKAF Operations Command.

Equipment was on full display as a water pump was to pump water from the crater. Then, dump trucks, crisscrossing the tarmac, began unloading tons of rocks into the crater, until it was full. The rocks were smoothed over with a steamroller and the excess debris was swept away by a team of ROKAF personnel.

The repair work was tested by performing a compaction test, which measures the density of soil and ensures the repaired runway section can handle the impact of aircraft landing or rolling over it.

Once the test was completed, 8th CES Airmen positioned the fiberglass mat over the filled crater and bolted the mat to the runway. After lunch, the two groups would switch roles, allowing evaluators to observe similarities and differences in both equipment and techniques used.

View the slideshow.