210th EIS Builds in Germany

Staff Sgt. Stephen Sether (left) and Master Sgt. Richard Dumire of the 210th Engineering and Installation Squadron from the Minnesota Air National Guard move a manhole cover to gain access to conduits on Ramstein Air Base, Germany on March 2, 2009. The 210th EIS deployed about thirty Airmen to install communications cables to the base in early 2009. USAF Official photo by Technical Sgt. Erik Gudmundson.

210th EIS Builds in Germany

Technical Sgt. Dave Roberts of the 210th Engineering and Installation Squadron from the Minnesota Air National Guard lubricates trenching equipment on Ramstein Air Base, Germany on March 3, 2009. The 210th EIS deployed about thirty Airmen to install communications cables to the base in early 2009. USAF Official photo by Technical Sgt. Erik Gudmundson.

210th EIS Builds in Germany

Senior Airman Joshua Niesen of the 210th Engineering and Installation Squadron from the Minnesota Air National Guard climbs a ladder in a manhole on Ramstein Air Base, Germany on March 3, 2009. The 210th EIS deployed about thirty Airmen to install communications cables to the base in early 2009. USAF Official photo by Technical Sgt. Erik Gudmundson.

210th EIS Builds in Germany

Published March 22, 2009
By Technical Sgt. Erik Gudmundson
133rd Airlift Wing

Ramstein Air Base, Germany -- Nearly 30 Airmen from the Minnesota Air National Guard's 210th Engineering Installation Squadron (EIS) volunteered to install critical communications cables January through March 2009, saving the Air Force over $200,000.

The installation project involved running wiring through conduit burying it in trenches, climbing down into man holes to add conduit to existing tunnels, as well as installing new fiber into already run conduit. The fiber optic cables installed by the 210th EIS are used as the backbone for the computer network.

During the project additional jobs came up and members of the 210th EIS rose to meet those tasks as well. This included improving and revamping the supply storage system at the 1st Communications Squadron surface transportation section. Two more members of the 210th EIS worked as mechanics in the surface transportation section and then were featured in an AFN commercial that ran on while deployed to Germany on AFN television.

Many times in the middle of a busy traffic area but, usually under the cover of darkness the Airmen of the 210th EIS could be seen crawling out of manholes or digging a trench for conduit during the installation. The installers worked both day and night shifts to insure the project did not disrupt the smooth operations of Ramstein Air Base a critical part of the War on Terror.

Thanks to the 210th fiber optic connections and network equipment on Ramstein Air Base is ready to meet the needs of the base's growing information system.

The 210th Engineering Installation Squadron is a geographically separated unit of the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, St. Paul Minnesota.