Dirtboys: An in-depth scoop

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daryl Knee
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. --  A vehicle races through the morning light. Noticing some delayed traffic ahead, the driver stops the car.

"Man, traffic is blocked again. Now I'm going to be late for work. Great, it's a street sweeper."

As traffic begins to ease forward, the driver glances out his window, notices, and immediately dismisses the member of the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron operating the sweeper.

This may seem like an everyday occurrence: just a Warren member cleaning the road.

This operator is performing a vital task. This operator is saving lives.

This operator is doing his job.

The members of the 90th CES horizontal flight provide labor for projects throughout Warren by managing grass at the missile sites, erosion control at many locations, maintenance of gravel roads, upkeep of paved areas, cleaning the streets, snow removal and other things.

"It's nice working here," said Airman 1st Class Matt Helton, 90th CES. "I'm happy to serve the Air Force in the capacity to maintain F.E. Warren Air Force Base."

They are also tasked with various special projects throughout the year, like Fort D.A. Russell Days and Cheyenne Frontier Days. They provide support for the Thunderbirds show, as well. Setting up fence posts, digging holes and creating structures requires some long, hard, dirty work.

"You got to go in and get the job done," said Steve Launer, heavy equipment operator. "We do a little bit of everything."

It's never the same thing for the horizontal flight, nicknamed Dirtboys, when they go to work. The projects are always changing, and they never know what will come next. The jobs might require the use of a shovel or a complex piece of machinery.

"A lot of people think that it's just pulling levers," said David Simpson, heavy equipment operator. "It's more technical than that. It's challenging, but you get the satisfaction of doing the job right."

The Dirtboys' shop is split between civilians and military members. At any given time, there can be up to six teams working at once. That calls for adaptability and cooperation between the two backgrounds.

"We have diversity in the shop between the civilians and G.I.s," said Brian Nichols, heavy equipment operator. "We have to work together and adapt to all the projects that come our way."

The Dirtboys' shop shows the cooperation between different career fields, too.

"I feel like we have a hand in everybody's Kool-Aid," said Airman Andrew Williamson, 90th CES. "Plumbers are there to do their job, electricians are there to do their job, and we go in and dig the holes.

"We're called Dirtboys because we play in the dirt," Airman Williamson added.