CEMIRT

Mr. Michael Hale, a CEMIRT mechanic, welds a piece of equipment. CEMIRT has a fully functional welding shop. The shop gives them the advantage to fabricating and repairing parts and equipment without having to find off-base support. The team also has the ability to send their welding equipment to off-base sites, which helps save time and money on different jobs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Raymond Hoy)

CEMIRT

Staff Sgt. Tinashe Chinouyazve, a Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection and Repair Team mechanic, takes different measurements of an engine block. The engines are torn down to the block and taken downtown for cleaning. After the blocks are returned to CEMIRT, the team completes a series of measurements to ensure the block is ready for reassembly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Raymond Hoy)

CEMIRT

Mr. Michael Powers, a CEMIRT mechanic, and Technical Sgt. Matthew Thrasher, a CEMIRT electrician, run a generator after it has been rebuilt. All units must be tested, checking for leaks and operational ability, prior to being shipped back to the customer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Raymond Hoy)

CEMIRT gets job done for civil engineers worldwide

Published March 23, 2006
By Staff Sgt. Raymond Hoy
60th AMW Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- What’s a CEMIRT? What do they do there? These are common questions asked of the members serving on the Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection and Repair Team.

Although many people at Travis don’t know about CEMIRT, the unit has been here since 1976 and is well known among civil engineering units both stateside and overseas.

“Our mission is to service the civil engineering commanders in their installations power generation and electrical distribution,” said Mr. Gary Campbell, the power systems foreman. “We do various things from circuit breaker maintenance and infrared scanning, to generator installation and repair.”

CE commanders have the luxury of being able to call CEMIRT for some of the larger jobs they may not be able to support themselves.

“We have the equipment and job knowledge that some of these bases just don’t have,” said Master Sgt. William Robinson, the electric shop NCO in charge. “We have the capability of doing major projects for CE at bases around the world.”

Many bases call CEMIRT because of the price as well.

“We normally only charge for the price of the materials and the cost to ship them where they need to go,” said Mr. Campbell. The Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, CEMIRT’s parent unit, usually covers the rest of the costs.

“There’s not a contractor who can beat us,” Mr. Campbell added.

CEMIRT has also found ways to reuse some of the old equipment they work with.

“We’ve been able to reuse some of the equipment we tear out of one base and find use for it at another,” Sergeant Robinson said.

“Just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it’s no good,” he added.

While at home station, CEMIRT is heavily involved in the rebuilding of mobile power generators.

“We do reconstitution of tactical generators used for backing up the electrical distribution centers for Osan and Kunsan,” explained Mr. Campbell.

This involves cleaning the unit and completely tearing it down to its bare bones and then putting it back together like new, said Sergeant Robinson.

Beyond maintenance, CEMIRT is actively involved in the testing of new equipment the Air Force is interested in purchasing.

CEMIRT is involved in the testing of a new generator the Air Force is thinking of purchasing to replace the aging MEP-012, which is the main power plant available to forward deployed locations, said Sergeant Robinson.

While CEMIRT may be a little known unit at Travis, it offers a well known service to Air Force CE commanders. It is, and always has been, a source for them to call on when a task arises, big or small.