This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

Warren Air Force Base Tour

The ESP students were privileged with the opportunity to tour the F. E. Warren Air Force Base. Armed with photo i.d.'s, we departed on a school bus and spent the day exploring the wonders of the Air Force world. Our tour included checking out the windmills, playing with heavy machinery, and observing the historical differences in various buildings. We also set up a tent (well, a small percentage of us), learned about surveying and how the base applies that information. Our final stop was at the museum for one heck of a tour! For lunch we were given MREs. Overall, it was a great time.

More WAFB

Warren Air Force Base was a good opportunity to find out what different types of engineers did and also showed us a good job opportunity. While at WAFB we learned about the roles of Civil and Environmental engineers in the Air Force. We also learned about the jobs of the construction/building/road maintenance crew and the surveying team at the base.

Another thing we did was eat MRE's or meals ready to eat. MRE's are what soldiers in the field have to eat. A MRE is very nutritious and usually has between 1200 and 2000 calories. The food inside ranges from Italian chicken and pasta to vegetarian hamburgers. The main meal is cooked with a heating packet that makes a chemical reaction when water is added. There is also other food inside the MRE's though. Some of the MRE's have M&Ms, Skittles, raisons, potato fries, brownies, assorted scones, and other bread type desserts.

One more interesting thing we did at WAFB was visiting some of the original buildings. We found out that WAFB is a national historic site and that all construction to original buildings needs to keep with the theme. One building is even still in its original state. It is one of the old cavalry stables. It still has 2 living quarters in the upper part with a balcony that looks over the stable. It also still has an original operating room in the front. The only thing that had been done to this building was that it was turned into a storage area.

WAFB Again

In order to understand how engineering and engineering degrees can be used after college, students participating in ESP traveled to Warren Air Force Base outside of Cheyenne to visit with engineers in the air force. After arriving, students visited several facilities including the bases two windmills which are intended to help keep the base self-sustaining in terms of energy.

Students then toured the rest of the base including original facilities from the 1860's and took time to explore how well or poorly the buildings have been kept up. Most buildings have been renovated within the interior; however, great lengths have been taken to preserve the exteriors and maintain the overall look of the base. One of the few buildings that remains original within the interior is one of the many stables. Although it is now used to house old missile equipment, the original stalls and operating room are still obviously visible and impressive.

In the afternoon, students helped assemble a steel-framed-tent. Students worked together to assemble two interior frame structures and then covered the frames with the canvas top.

The day concluded with a trip to the base's museum to view original rooms, uniforms, and equipment. The museum also contained technology that the base used during the cold war including technology from the peace keeper and minute man missiles.

Although it was a busy day, it was both educational and interesting to learn how engineering can be applied in both a post-college environment and a military setting as well.