572nd CRG squadrons test mobility readiness with Alaska Challenge

Staff Sgt. James Miller, 573rd Global Support Squadron, ties the canvas doorway of an Alaska shelter during the Alaska Challenge. The challenge pitted squadrons from the 615th Contingency Response Wing against each other to see which could put up an Alaska shelter the quickest. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jennifer Brugman/60th AMW Public Affairs)

572nd CRG squadrons test mobility readiness with Alaska Challenge

Competitors in the Alaska Challenge coordinate to pull the canvas tent shell over the frame work. The Alaska Challenge pitted five squadrons against each other to see who could build an Alaska shelter in the shortest time. The 572nd Global Mobility Squadron took first place with a time of 52 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jennifer Brugman/60th AMW Public Affairs)

572nd CRG squadrons test mobility readiness with Alaska Challenge

Senior Airman Christopher Frederick, 572nd Global Mobility Squadron, arranges the tent shell on the ground. The second place team, 570th Global Mobility Squadron, at the Alaska challenge came in 39 seconds behind the first place team, 572nd GMS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jennifer Brugman/60th AMW Public Affairs)

572nd CRG squadrons test mobility readiness with Alaska Challenge

Airman Lauren Frost, 571st Global Mobility Readiness Squadron, finishes pulling the tent shell, which weighs approximately 80 pounds, over the aluminum frame of an Alaska Shelter. The shell is then tied down to the bottom rails of the frame. The winning team received trophies for their quick work and innovative planning. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jennifer Brugman/60th AMW Public Affairs)

572nd CRG squadrons test mobility readiness with Alaska Challenge

Tech. Sgt. Kevin Jiles, 572nd Global Mobility Readiness Squadron, ties the guide ropes together that pull the canvas tent shell off the ground and over the frame of an Alaska shelter during the Alaska Challenge. The competition pitted five squadrons from the 615th Contingency Response Wing against each other to see who could build an Alaska shelter in the shortest time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jennifer Brugman/60th AMW Public Affairs)

572nd CRG squadrons test mobility readiness with Alaska Challenge

Published Oct. 23, 2006
By Jennifer Brugman
60th AMW Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Five teams from the 615th Contingency Response Wing competed against the clock Oct. 13 to see which team could put up an Alaska shelter the fastest.

"We use them when we go out to bare bases," said Staff Sgt. Jason Bennett, event organizer. "They are used for lodging, command posts, medical facilities and chow halls. It is a very multi-purpose tent."

The 572nd Global Mobility Squadron, 572nd Global Mobility Readiness Squadron, 570th Global Mobility Squadron, 571st Global Mobility Squadron, 573rd Global Support Squadron all competed in the event. These squadrons fall under the 615th CRW. Part of the 615th CRW mission is to open bases in forward deployed environments.

"This competition exercises our expeditionary skills - skills we use in the field," said Col. Robert Thomas, 572nd Contingency Response Group commander. "We may be sent on combat support missions in the mountains of Afghanistan or on a humanitarian tasking in a remote tropical area so it's important to put these shelters up properly and quickly."

The 572nd GMS took an early lead in the competition and used that momentum to finish in first place with a flat 52-minute build-up of their Alaska shelter. The team took 17 minutes and 29 seconds to tear it down.

"It went exceptionally smooth," said Staff Sgt. John Lowe, 572nd GMS team leader, who estimates he has help put up more than 30 Alaska shelters. "[Everyone on our team] knew everything about the tent and everyone knew their part in the build up and the tear down."

The 572nd GMS also took the innovation award for their strategy of building the base and the top of the structure separately and then assembling them.

"The new process we developed combined some of the steps to make it a lot more efficient in the end," Sergeant Lowe said. The process involves assembling the pieces on the ground without the use of ladders.

The second place team was the 570th GMS with a time of 52 minutes 39 seconds. Their take down time was 25 minutes and 29 seconds.

"The team was proud," said Sergeant Lowe. "We hands down beat the other team. We're proud that we're the best in the CRG."