Ready, set, snow? JBER crews await first measurable snowfall

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - As temperatures fall across Alaska, the JBER crews responsible for clearing roads and runways are preparing for the season’s first measurable snowfall.

“There’s a lot of hesitation. Some people have guesses, some people have bets,” Tech. Sgt. Skyler Shotwell, with the U.S. Air Force, said.

The 773d Civil Engineer Squadron, made up of about 100 civilians and service members, keeps roadways and the airfield clear during inclement weather. Anchorage, according to Alaska’s First Alert Weather team, sees an average of 77.9 inches of snowfall per year. To keep up with Alaska’s weather, the team operates 24/7 from October to May to keep JBER mission-ready.

“It’s absolutely imperative on what we do. We enable everyone on base to travel safely on the roads. We keep the airplanes in the air and we let them land safely,” Shotwell said. “The most dangerous part of flight is takeoff and landing. So, us keeping the runway open, make sure that the pilots can get home safe.”

As summer operations wind down, the crew marked the seasonal shift with a “Snow and Ice” parade on Oct. 7. The parade shines light on the work their team does. They parade various pieces of snow removal equipment around base.

“We’re getting ready and prepared to go into winter,” Shotwell said. “It also reinforces just the base pop list and everyone around that we’re ready for the season. And it’s also good for recognition for the team.”

One of the team members who makes that possible is Gary Stone. For the past 50 years, Stone has worked with four different government agencies to keep the roads operational.

“I like it. Especially, I like running the equipment,” Stone said. “I like what the mission is out here, and I just enjoy being out here.”

This year marks his 42nd Snow and Ice parade. Stone added that the parade allows his team to show off what they do and what it takes to get the job done.

“I think if you compare it to a layer of an onion, I think we’ve got the thickest layer of everybody out here because without what we do, nobody’s getting through the gate, nobody’s getting to the commissary, nobody’s getting to their job. The airplanes cannot launch and recover without what we do out here,” Stone said.

The Oct. 7 parade featured 30 pieces of snow-removal equipment and stretched about two miles. In total, JBER said, it has 98 machines in its fleet, estimated at around $101 million in assets.

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