CE combats extreme weather, constructs new storage facility Published July 26, 2018 By Senior Airman Alaysia Berry 366th Fighter Wing MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- In an effort to safeguard equipment from the extreme weather experienced here in the Treasure Valley, the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron is constructing a storage facility. The facility will improve the shelf life of storage materials used by the squadron, while safeguarding assets and ensuring good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Previously, materials stored in the old facility only had a shelf life of one year. “Our materials don’t last as long they could due to weather,” said Staff Sgt. Zachary Miller, 366th CES pavement heavy equipment operator journeyman. “When it rains, it warps the wood we need to use for our projects, which makes it more difficult to accomplish our tasks.” The new facility will give potential for materials to have a shelf life of five to seven years, and will increase the squadron’s storage capabilities by 29 percent. By extending the shelf life for building materials, the Air Force will save about $180,000. The construction project also provides an opportunity for Airmen from six different career fields to train and improve their technical skills together as a team. “Building this facility provides our Airmen multi-trade project experience in planning and design, and allows them to enhance their contingency construction skills,” said 1st Lt. Samuel Parker, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron chief of operations engineering. “It is important that we do these projects to ensure we are keeping contingency skills razor sharp, and to ensure that we are sending the most capable Airmen down-range to perform the CE mission.” The storage facility is expected to be completed at the end of September.