According to Brian Robinson, 88 CES heavy repair chief, two separate grounds service shops with 35 personnel are responsible for maintaining about 5,000 acres across the base.
Outside of daily maintenance, the 88 CES also upkeeps idle grounds across the base.
“We maintain over 1,700 acres of unimproved areas that require a minimum of two to three cuts a year depending on the length of the growing season. With a wet and warm spring and early summer come huge challenges for these folks, but they are always up to the task,” Robinson continued.
Each season comes with its challenges and the 88 CES is prepared for them.
“In the summer, mowing is the flavor of the day, every day,” said Robinson. “During the fall, grounds personnel mainly perform tree/stump and leaf removal and typically continue tree/stump removal throughout winter between the winter weather events. During the winter months, grounds personnel are valued members of the Snow & Ice Team. They have varying assignments ranging from airfield broom/plow operators, to street plow operators to sidewalk crew members,” Robinson continued.
In addition to seasonal upkeep, Robinson said they are also working on ongoing projects.
“We are restoring several areas to more maintainable space, such as the ‘Frog Pond’ area in Area B. The trees had outgrown the space and the terrain and obstacles made it a labor-intensive location to maintain. It also became a major leaf collection point in the fall. So we removed the trees and dead shrubbery, filled and leveled the low areas with soil and took measures to restore some of the original pond while trying to recreate some of the historical appearance the area once had, while at the same time allowing us to more easily maintain the area,” said Robinson.
Robinson added that the work of the grounds maintenance crew directly impacts daily operations at Wright-Patterson AFB as well as helps ward off invasive species.
“Maintaining the airfield has a direct effect on the flying mission by reducing the amount of nesting birds. Maintaining the visual right-of-ways along the perimeter fence lines enables the 88th Security Forces Squadron to maintain intrusion control. Also, maintaining several range areas for the Air Force Research Laboratory helps with developing future Air Force weapons systems,” said Robinson.
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