Travis civil engineers inspect, repair 17 generators for use in Japan

Published April 28, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Michael Battles
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. -- Recently, the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency's Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection Repair Team located at Travis Air Force Base was tasked to inspect and repair 17 generators, which will be used to offset the power use of Yokota and Misawa Air Bases, Japan.

Due to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March and caused damage to the Fukushima-Daiichi power plant, the Japanese government has instituted a mandate for large consumers to reduce energy consumption by a minimum of 25 percent. This mandate includes U.S. military bases in Japan.

"To maintain the needs of the mission at our bases in Japan, the government tasked us with supplying the generators, which will make up for the lost power," said Gary Campbell CEMIRT power systems foreman. "Our generators will furnish the energy needs at Yokota and Misawa for approximately two years."

The 17 generators, which are made up of five CEMIRT emergency power systems and 12 tactical generators, are currently being inspected, tested and fixed by CEMIRT technicians before they can be approved for operation.

Once inspections are complete, the units will be sent by ship to Japan by the end of August and split between the two installations to form mini-power plants, said Mr. Campbell.

The generators will run for approximately three hours a day, seven days a week to keep each base at the required 25 percent reduction.

Once the generators arrive in Japan, a 16-person CEMIRT technician team will not only setup up mini power plants, but train local service members and Department of Defense civilians to operate and maintain the systems.

The CEMIRT team is comprised of eight electrical and eight mechanical technicians, which will be divided between the two locations.

"The tasking is essential for the military to keep its mission going," said Mr. Campbell. But the generators will not only supply power to keep operations going, but quality of life for the families of each base as well, he said.

"CEMIRT provides unique capabilities and skills for electrical and mechanical needs at the base-level," said Vincent Consentino, Travis CEMIRT regional manager. "These skills that help us get our mission done are what make us a commodity to the Air Force."

The Travis CEMIRT, a partner unit headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., provides mechanical and electrical capabilities for all air force bases west of the Mississippi as well as the entire Pacific.