Alaska Construction Management Team to Deploy to Middle East

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Alaska Army National Guard's 208th Construction Management Team held a change of command and deployment ceremony on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Nov. 14.

The unit will deploy seven Soldiers in December to support the Department of Defense's Central Command in Kuwait and will be responsible for various large-scale construction projects. These technical experts will oversee the construction of buildings, roads and other key infrastructure across CENTCOM's area of responsibility.

This fourth AKARNG deployment this year highlights the Guard's role in the federal mission here and around the globe, aiding in domestic border security, troop movement across the Middle East, construction management and security operations.

Sgt. Lester Tuazon, a horizontal construction engineer assigned to surveying and materials testing, said he was excited to help with construction projects abroad. He honed his skills this year when the 208th CMT worked in Cordova, Alaska, as part of Innovative Readiness Training.

The IRT mission provides real-world training for service members and units to prepare them for their wartime missions while supporting the needs of America's underserved communities. In Cordova, the unit assisted in a new road project to support access to the Shepard Point Marine Tribal Transportation Oil Spill and Marine Casualty Response Facility.

"I'm looking forward to deploying, seeing a new culture and doing my job," Tuazon said. "I love being a surveyor. It's kind of like hiking with a giant stick that helps you map out the land. You get to come in before all the chaos of moving dirt and acquire information about the land before everything else happens."

Despite the small size of the unit, the 208th CMT will bring a wealth of experience to its foreign partners and allies.

Sgt. 1st Class Corina Barrera, an AKARNG member since 2013, hails from a legacy of construction in her family. Her father owned a construction company when she was growing up, and her mother was part of the operator's union. Both parents instilled a love for working with equipment and problem-solving at a young age.

Today, Barrera works as a heavy equipment operator in her full-time civilian job and has spent the past two winters working in Antarctica. She has worked in construction on six continents and has deployed to Romania and Poland with the Guard. This will be her first Guard deployment in an engineering capacity.

"One thing I love about traveling to other countries is they have a unique way of doing things that I always learn from," Barerra said. "I've spent a lot of time moving dirt as an equipment operator, but this deployment will give me a chance to see these projects with a big-picture perspective."

Capt. Trey Caram, who assumed command of the 208th CMT from Capt. Joshua Wangeman during the ceremony, will lead the unit on its deployment.

"I'm excited about seeing all the cool things we're able to do over there and executing what we're trained for," Caram said.