Hurricane Sandy knocks EC down, not out

by Tech. Sgt. Zachary Wilson
U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center

11/9/2012 - JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J.  -- The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center was prepared for Hurricane Sandy when the superstorm made landfall on Oct. 29 in southern New Jersey. What the organization was not expecting was the level of damage the storm caused to the building or the impact the damages would have on courses and programs conducted here.

However, one thing was clear from the outset - training would go on. Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Mahoney, the superintendant for the Expeditionary Center Commandant's office, which is in charge of all training operations at the EC, explained that many "outside-of-the-box" solutions had to take place to conduct operations immediately after the storm and into the next weeks.

"We continued training despite losing all power for six days and having the phone switch destroyed by a downed power line," he said. "Our folks found alternate locations for training, strung temporary electrical distribution for the barracks, and our information technology folks obtained a tactical phone system as a temporary fix. All the while, the 421st Combat Training Squadron was preparing equipment and supplies for possible FEMA assistance. Leadership within the Expeditionary Operations School is still part of the relief effort coordination."

Master Sgt. William Lonergan, manager for Combat Airman Skills Training pre-deployment course conducted by the 421st CTS, said cancelling the class that started Nov. 6 was not an option. Additionally, CAST instructors normally use time before classes to prepare but instead found themselves scrambling to assist other EC courses ongoing during the hurricane.

"We had our equipment prepped for CAST prior to the storm making landfall, so we really didn't anticipate many problems," he said. "A lot of our instructors came in to help other courses so we had members build a shelter for (Phoenix) Raven students due to the power outage to the EC campus, we placed emergency lighting in the hallways of buildings for student safety in the dorm and classrooms, and delivered and set-up generators to provide heat and lighting to the K9 facility."

According to the EC registrar's office, the center had 11 classes on the ground training with 241 students the weekend before the hurricane arrived. Two courses postponed training but started again later this week, and the anti-terrorism level 2 course was cancelled.

"Some classes ended that Friday, and the students had already left. In addition, the CAST Judge Advocate course students arrived that afternoon with 12 additional students bringing our total on the ground at JB-MDL before Sandy to 253," said Greg Hannon, Registrar director. "We currently have 155 total students in residence right now."

In addition the students attending the courses at joint base MDL, the Expeditionary Center is conducting three courses at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., one at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., one at Sheppard AFB, Texas, and one at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Hannon said.