Radar ready for refurbishment

Airman 1st Class Aaron Bryars, 85th Engineering Installation Squadron, loosens bolts on a GPN-22 precision approach radar being dismantled for shipment to Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania. The $8.7 million radar, used to train ground radar apprentice students in the 338th Training Squadron, is being overhauled at a cost of $1.9 million. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Radar readied for refurbishment

The GPN-22 radar antenna located between the supply warehouse and Cody Hall is lowered to be dismantled for shipment to Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania. The depot, a major element of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, is the largest full-service electronics maintenance facility in the Department of Defense. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dale Riggins)

Radar ready for refurbishment

Published Aug. 13, 2008
By Susan Griggs
Keesler News

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- When the 81st Training Support Squadron needed to send a GPN-22 precision approach radar to Pennsylvania for refurbishing, three Keesler squadrons were there to support the project. The 85th Engineering Installation Squadron sent a team to lower and dismantle the 30-foot antenna.

The 81st Civil Engineer Squadron provided crane support, and the 81st Supply-Transportation Squadron prepared the equipment for shipment.

The GPN-22 is used in the 338th Training Squadron's ground radar apprentice course to train about 157 students annually.

The $8.7 million unit is being sent to Tobyhanna Army Depot for a $1.9 million overhaul expected to take about 10 months, according to Dale Riggins, who's responsible for equipment resources in the 81st TRSS.

The 11-member 85th EIS team used lifting slings and a crane operated by Charles Koch and Staff Sgt. Michael Cleveland from the 81st CES to bring down the antenna. The five sections were bolted and strapped to wooden skids, and the equipment shelter was readied for shipment.

Staff Sgt. Matthew Bricker was team chief for the 85th EIS, and Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Noecker planned the teardown.

Team members from the 85th EIS included Master Sgt. Stephen Oldham; Tech. Sgts. Brenda Gibbs and Janet Holmes; Staff Sgts. Seth Stanko and Walt Ferrell; Senior Airmen Matthew Hoefing, Dustin Rogers and Ivan Guerrero; Airman 1st Class Aaron Bryars and Airman Cedric White.

Fred Breland from the 81st SUPS-TRANS directed packing and crating of the equipment.

"The total job was completed one week and three days ahead of schedule," Mr. Riggins pointed out. "We have two other GPN-22s, one refurbished recently, so training won't be impacted while the overhaul is taking place."