WEBVTT

00:00.368 --> 00:03.868
(upbeat electronic music)

00:04.659 --> 00:08.602
^- [Sarah] Erecting a whole airbase is no easy feat.

00:08.602 --> 00:12.612
^Nor is maintaining one, or even drawing down one.

00:12.612 --> 00:15.779
However, engineering airmen do it all,

00:16.113 --> 00:19.767
starting at the absolute beginning with blueprints.

00:19.767 --> 00:22.028
^- So with the AutoCAD program, we use that to

00:22.028 --> 00:23.945
^just create floorplans.

00:24.168 --> 00:26.846
^We use that to have everything up to date with

00:26.846 --> 00:29.286
the floor plans on base we have as built

00:29.286 --> 00:33.413
from about the 40's, as long as the base has been around.

00:33.413 --> 00:35.254
- [Sarah] After blueprints are confirmed,

00:35.254 --> 00:37.129
construction can begin.

00:37.129 --> 00:39.861
Engineering may not actually build the structures

00:39.861 --> 00:43.161
but they ensure that all work is according to plan.

00:43.161 --> 00:44.943
^- First thing we did today was we went out to the JTAC's

00:44.943 --> 00:47.098
^facility to make sure that the Airforce is getting

00:47.098 --> 00:49.749
^the grade of steel and equipment that was being installed

00:49.749 --> 00:51.319
in there that it paid for.

00:51.319 --> 00:53.840
Quality insurance, quality control is the main goal

00:53.840 --> 00:55.066
that we do when we go out

00:55.066 --> 00:57.815
and do the construction inspections.

00:57.815 --> 01:00.854
- [Sarah] The engineering airmen of Misawa Airbase are all

01:00.854 --> 01:04.069
a part of GeoBase and are responsible for keeping

01:04.069 --> 01:06.486
the base map updated as well.

01:06.854 --> 01:11.021
It's a very exact task and they have the tools for the job.

01:11.269 --> 01:13.988
- [Robert] The second bit we did was typographic surveying.

01:13.988 --> 01:16.857
The telestation shoots at a prism and using

01:16.857 --> 01:19.431
the speed-of-light constant I can tell how far away it is.

01:19.431 --> 01:22.386
The telestation also has a lot of devices inside of it

01:22.386 --> 01:23.985
to measure the angles that it's turned

01:23.985 --> 01:25.804
both horizontally and vertically as well which give it

01:25.804 --> 01:28.471
a precise location on the Earth.

01:28.980 --> 01:31.880
- [Sarah] Whether it's an aircraft hanger, a runway,

01:31.880 --> 01:35.378
or anything else in between, an engineering airman

01:35.378 --> 01:39.009
had their hand in creating and maintaining it.

01:39.009 --> 01:41.692
- Behind the desk, sometimes you feel like we don't

01:41.692 --> 01:45.442
impact the mission directly but we do it all,

01:46.129 --> 01:47.879
from cradle to grave.

01:48.167 --> 01:49.792
- [Sarah] Senior Airman Sarah Mitchell,

01:49.792 --> 01:51.625
Misawa Airbase, Japan.

01:52.576 --> 01:55.326
(dramatic music)