Air Force personnel celebrate service's 60th birthday

By Senior Master Sgt. Scott Maunu, Triad Contributor

Sixty years ago, on Sept. 18, 1947, the U.S. Air Force was born. Since that time, millions of Americans have served proudly in the Air Force in more than 100 countries. Airmen have served in innumerable capacities during contingencies such as the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, the Cold War, the 1991 Gulf War, and, of course, the current Global War on Terrorism. These contributions have laid the framework for Airmen today to carry on the traditions and continued excellence in the finest Air Force the world has ever seen.


Airman 1st Class Samuel Druyor (left) and Col. Terry Watkins of the 819th RED HORSE cut a cake as part of a ceremony at Fort McCoy honoring the Air Force's 60th birthday.
(Photo by Lacey Justinger)
To commemorate all who have served before and serve today, more than 500 Airmen from forty-three Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE) squadrons paused to take a break from their Combat Skills Training (CST) at Fort McCoy, to reflect on 60 years of service and ponder the way ahead.

For good reason too. They're just one week into CST training prior to deploying for six months in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Upon completion of training, these Airmen will meld to form one cohesive, deployable team ready to conquer vast challenges awaiting them on their upcoming deployment.

However, for now Airmen enjoyed champagne, hearty toasts, a tasty meal, and delicious birthday cake. An evening of camaraderie and esprit de corps topped another involved day of training. Tomorrow, it's right back to the grind, with training in skills such as language familiarity, combat patrol convoy tactics, and Forward Operating Base sustainment filling the day's schedule.

It is traditional for Airmen to gather for a cake and champagne celebration every Air Force birthday. The Air Force originally was part of the Army, as the U.S. Army Air Corps, before realigning to become a separate service.

"It's ironic that we're here on an Army base on the birthday of the separate Army and Air Force," said Tech. Sgt. Trevor Scott, an Airman training at Fort McCoy. "We're melding back together, even though we're separate forms, we're coming back together."

Besides the obvious benefit of training in these warrior skills, the time at Fort McCoy is invaluable in building a winning team before the Airmen ever step foot in the U.S. and Coalition Central Command areas of responsibility. Upon completion of CST, all Airmen will be assigned to either the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group or 557th RED HORSE Squadron.

"This training here is the idea of one team, one fight," said Capt. Travis Yelton, the RED HORSE chaplain. "I'm broadening my repertoire of skills. The Air Force and Army cultures are different so when we come here it brings us up to speed on Army culture. When we deploy with the Army, we'll know what we're doing and how to speak Army language. The combat skills will protect us while we do our humanitarian missions as we're there to help the people."

"The training is well organized and a great help for me as it's my first deployment to Afghanistan," added Scott. "I learned a lot to take with me and use. I feel lucky having these people teaching me everything they know, so I can take it and use it."

RED HORSE was first created in the 1960s in Southeast Asia when the need for deployable civil engineers to build and sustain airfields and support facilities became clearly evident. RED HORSE will proudly carry on this tradition in-theater by accomplishing numerous projects at more than a dozen locales in Southwest Asia to support the Army and the Air Force.

They're ready to live up to the RED HORSE motto "Can Do - Will Do - Have Done" as the CST they're receiving now builds on and complements the training these Airmen have received at their home station. Simply put, they're proud to serve ... and as they said at the birthday ceremony TO THE HORSE!

(Maunu is the first sergeant for 819th RED HORSE Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.)