Tech Orders,

File: aacep_30.txt
Page: 30
Total Pages: 59
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      the engineers gave him was a beautiful wooden deck and shelter that
      became the social center for the base. Engineers also set up
      "self-help shops" for the base population. This not only allowed
      the base personnel to occupy their time and improve their living
      and working areas by building shelves or dressers' but also
      relieved the engineers from additional "askings. Ibe engineers at
      Bateen designed a small dresser that used MRF boxes as drawers and
      could be constructed from a single sheet of plywood. An engineer
      always monitored the shops to ensure wood was not wasted, provide
      expert advice, guard the tools, and enforce safety rules. The
      deployed troops enjoyed constructing these items to improve their
      s .~
      Services functions had a direct and immediate impact on the
      morale of the deployed troops. The quality and variety of food
      continued to improve as food service personnel found additional
      sources of food and equipment in the local area. The addition of
      such luxury items as soft serve ice cream machines' a hot noon
      meal' and fresh bakery products could improve morale for days.
      Services personnel usually paid the price for the increased
      service. As commanders demanded expanded service from their Prime
      RIBS team, they bumped up against the Air Force policy of two hot
      and one cold meal per day. CENTAF/DE manned and equipped the sites
      to meet the Air Force standard. Additional equipment had to be
      procured to meet the increased demands and more people were
      requested. However, by November and December, few Services people
      were available for deployment to these sites. When three and
      s^s ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ its ~
      corked longer bours wiLb few days off. To counteract thin' at
      Bateen AB UAE' contractors provided a catered meal every Sunday
      evening. This allowed the Palms RIBS personnel to give the kitchen
      and dining tent a tboroulb cleaning and gave them a respite from
      for a few hours
      With the approaching holiday season' commanders turned to
      Services to help maintain morale. What could have been a
      particularly lonely time for the deployed troops was brightened by
      the efforts of Services personnel at all levels. They determined
      Lo make the Thanksglvlng and Chrlstma~ holiday meals almost like
      bome. Weeks of planning went into the meals and special shipments
      of food were scheduled. A special "Turkey Express" C-130 airlift
      delivered frozen turkeys, bags' roast beef to the sites at
      Thanksglving. For Christmas' Air Force personnel consumed 14~070
      pounds of turkey' 9~300 pounds of ham' 18~760 pounds of roast beef
      and 9~400 pounds of shrimp. Although preparation of these meals
      required extra work for Prime RIBS personnel' they received great
      satisfaction in serving them. Nearly everyone considered the
      ~bankSgiving and ChrISLma~ holiday meat one of the highlights of
      the season. The sight of turkey' ham' and all the trimmings and
      holiday decorations eased the pain of separation for the thousands
      of personnel away from bome.69
      Prime RIBS personnel made improvements to billeting
      operations. Mattresses and bedframe~ replaced cots, linens
      sat ha, ~ Sets