Structures ensure safe environment

by Staff Sgt. Cody H. Ramirez
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

4/25/2014 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Construction workers provide communities throughout the world with buildings and homes to make life and work more comfortable.

At Yokota Air Base, the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron structures shop provides that same stability by maintaining, planning and repairing structures. The 21-Airmen shop oversees base structural integrity, ensuring safe facilities for Airmen and their families.

One of their more recent work efforts, Thursday, included the removal of a damaged roof to improve an already safe environment for community members.

"We returned a bicycle rack to a safe state so the dormitory residents can utilize it again without fear of getting hurt or damaging their property," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Vera-Erazo, 374 CES structures craftsman.

Yokota experienced brutal winter storms in February, the worst in 47 years, which dropped 35 inches of snow on base within a two-week period. In a location that typically receives 2 inches of snow for the entire month of February, the snow left its mark, damaging some base facilities.

"Snowmageddon damaged many things that weren't built to withstand that much snow," said Tech. Sgt. Vincent Catalfamo, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron structures noncommissioned officer in charge. "Now we are going back and reinforcing and improving the safety in many buildings to hopefully prevent future damage to structures."

The structural shop has already completed a number of repairs since the snowstorms, ensuring buildings and structures throughout Yokota meet proper safety codes.

"Every day we are around base doing something," Catalfamo added.

The structures Airmen do a majority of base maintenance and a variety of repairs to ensure the facilities and structures used every day are properly functioning, according to Catalfamo.

"Our job allows other units and shops to focus on what they do rather than facility issues," Catalfamo said. "We make life easier for everyone else so they can complete their mission."

Catalfamo said that in addition to being able to help units on base, he enjoys the sense of accomplishment that comes along with the job.

"Unlike a lot of other folks and crafts, at the end of the day we can see exactly what we did," he said. "Whether we made something better or created something new, we see an almost immediate change. When we leave at the end of the day, we leave a physical mark at Yokota."