{"id":45178,"date":"2018-08-27T00:00:26","date_gmt":"2018-08-27T00:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/27\/us-air-force-tests-base-in-a-box-in-poland-to-prep-for-future-wars\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:06:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:06:05","slug":"us-air-force-tests-base-in-a-box-in-poland-to-prep-for-future-wars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/08\/27\/us-air-force-tests-base-in-a-box-in-poland-to-prep-for-future-wars\/","title":{"rendered":"US Air Force tests \u2018base in a box\u2019 in Poland to prep for future wars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4788\" data-id=\"4788\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DABS-Tent-City.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DABS-Tent-City.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DABS-Tent-City.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DABS-Tent-City.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DABS-Tent-City.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">About 60 airmen from 14 different active, Reserve and Air National Guard units set up this tent city at Poland\u2019s 31st Air Base during a July exercise meant to test a smaller, prototype version of the U.S. Air Force&#8217;s deployable air base system, or DABS, construct. This camp is about one-fifth the scale of an actual DABS, exercise organizers say. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4796\" data-id=\"4796\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DABS-Tent-City-2.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DABS-Tent-City-2.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DABS-Tent-City-2.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DABS-Tent-City-2.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DABS-Tent-City-2.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The first-ever DABS proof of concept officially kicked off July 16, when vehicles and supplies started arriving at Poland&#8217;s 31st Air Base. This photo shows 12 tents used for living quarters, left, with the headquarters of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron, which provided classified and unclassified radio and internet, right. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4803\" data-id=\"4803\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dining.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dining.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dining.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dining.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Dining.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The dining facility, on left, with the camp&#8217;s kitchen on right. During the DABS exercise, U.S. Air Force personnel ate breakfast and dinner with Polish forces, while airmen from the 200th RED HORSE Squadron DET 1, Ohio Air National Guard, cooked daily lunches. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4810\" data-id=\"4810\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Food.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Food.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Food.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Food.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Food.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">A typical hot lunch of noodles and gravy, fruit cocktail, vegetables, and chocolate cake. The meals were prepared and served by airmen from the 200th RED HORSE Squadron DET 1, Ohio Air National Guard. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4820\" data-id=\"4820\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Showers-1.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Showers-1.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Showers-1.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Showers-1.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Showers-1.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">One of the shower facilities available to U.S. Air Force personnel during the DABS proof of concept, which ran from July 16 to Aug. 14, 2018, at Poland\u2019s 31st Air Base. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4828\" data-id=\"4828\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Laundry-Facilities.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Laundry-Facilities.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Laundry-Facilities.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Laundry-Facilities.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Laundry-Facilities.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Over the course of the exercise, 87 trucks, two C-130J aircraft and a train moved the equivalent of 321 pallets of equipment into Krzesiny, Poland, by July 31. These washing machines were among that sent via C-130 to the 31st Air Base. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4836\" data-id=\"4836\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Airfield-Repair-1.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Airfield-Repair-1.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Airfield-Repair-1.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Airfield-Repair-1.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Airfield-Repair-1.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">On July 31, several U.S. Air Force civil engineers were tapped to perform airfield work for the Polish armed forces. The troops participating in the DABS exercise used a kit of materiel needed for rapid airfield repairs, such as concrete and asphalt, a variety of saws, and other tools. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4846\" data-id=\"4846\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Airfield-Repair-2.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Airfield-Repair-2.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Airfield-Repair-2.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Airfield-Repair-2.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Airfield-Repair-2.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">An airman uses a chainsaw to remove damaged concrete before a team of civil engineers fills a sinkhole on a maintenance apron on July 31 at the 31st Air Base near Krzesiny, Poland. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4861\" data-id=\"4861\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Unloading-dock.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Unloading-dock.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Unloading-dock.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Unloading-dock.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Unloading-dock.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">U.S. Air Force personnel, temporarily deployed to the 31st Air Base in Krzesiny, Poland, unload vehicles and shipping containers full of equipment on July 31. The DABS exercise held in July and August will help the service evaluate how quickly it can move materiel onto a partner nation&#8217;s base. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-4871\" data-id=\"4871\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Vehicles-Storage.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Vehicles-Storage.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Vehicles-Storage.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Vehicles-Storage.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Vehicles-Storage.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Over the course of the DABS proof of concept, about 60 vehicles and 161 containers worth of equipment were transported from Sanem, Luxembourg, to Krzesiny, Poland, from July 16 to Aug. 1, 2018. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">KRZESINY, Poland \u2014 If the U.S. Air Force <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/03\/15\/air-force-ups-support-for-allies-in-europe-keeps-close-eye-on-russia\/\" target=_blank>finds itself in a conflict with Russia<\/a>, it won\u2019t be able to simply rely on its major operating hubs in Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. So it\u2019s getting more expeditionary thanks to a new \u201cair base in a box\u201d that will enable the service to rapidly move to a partner nation\u2019s airfield, set up a squadron and begin flying combat missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Defense News traveled to Poland\u2019s 31st Air Base near Krzesiny this July for an exclusive look at the first-ever trial of the U.S. Air Force\u2019s new deployable air base system, or DABS \u2014 a series of humble-looking shipping containers filled with everything needed to stand up air operations, including temporary billeting and mess facilities, vehicles, airfield repair resources, and power and electrical equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;When we deploy forward, we have very generous hosts, but in a crisis, they\u2019re going to need their capabilities for their priorities, their mission sets, and we\u2019re going to fight jointly and operate jointly,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2018\/08\/27\/us-air-forces-top-logistician-in-europe-explains-how-deployable-air-bases-can-change-operations\/\" target=_blank>said Brig. Gen. Roy Agustin<\/a>, U.S. Air Forces Europe\u2019s director of logistics, engineering and force protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut rather than add a burden by adding our [requirements] \u2014 \u2018Hey, can you provide us power, can you provide us lodging?\u2019 \u2014 if we can bring that organic capability with us, we are both more capable and there\u2019s more synergy as a result,\u201d he told Defense News in a July 31 interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/smr\/nato-priorities\/2018\/06\/25\/poking-the-bear-us-air-force-builds-in-russias-backyard\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4222856.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Poking the bear: US Air Force builds in Russia\u2019s backyard<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The U.S. Air Force is quietly ramping up investments that will enable it to deploy to allied bases in Eastern Europe and operate close to Russia\u2019s western flank.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While this capability comes at a fraction of the cost of a new, permanent air base, it still entails spending hundreds of millions of dollars on DABS and storage facilities based around Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fiscal 2019, the Air Force plans on spending $361 million for DABS equipment. The budget also includes funding for storage facilities to house DABS, including $119 million for Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and $87 million for one at Royal Air Force Fairford in the United Kingdom. A further $48 million will pay for production and deployment of \u201cenhancements\u201d to existing DABS infrastructure at undisclosed locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gen. Tod Wolters, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe, said funding these deployable air base packages is critical for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/digital-show-dailies\/riat\/2018\/07\/16\/investments-in-baltic-nations-making-air-force-more-lethal-services-top-commander-in-europe-says\/\" target=\"_blank\">improving the posture of the service on the European continent<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThose funds have enhanced our lethality, our responsiveness and our resiliency, and we want to ensure that our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are in a position where they can be quicker and faster and sharper and stronger than their predecessors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/2017\/11\/22\/lessons-from-zapad-jamming-nato-and-the-future-of-belarus\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP17261458459534.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Lessons from Zapad \u2014 jamming, NATO and the future of Belarus<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Col. Kaupo Rosin, Estonia\u2019s head of military intelligence, laid out his big takeaways from Zapad during a November interview with Defense News.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because the Air Force didn\u2019t start buying DABS until the FY18 budget and still doesn\u2019t have a complete system, a full-up DABS was not used for this first deployment. Instead, airmen hustled to deploy a more cost-effective prototype version that was about 20 percent the size of a normal DABS, said Capt. Alex John, who helped plan the exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The scale doesn\u2019t need to be huge yet because right now what we\u2019re doing is we\u2019re scripting the process for how we would actually forward deploy DABS,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat we\u2019re able to do at a small scale, we\u2019re able to do essentially the same exact way on a large scale. So it\u2019s the same process, just more people and more equipment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>The exercise starts &#8230;<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While planning for the exercise began almost a year ago, the proof of concept officially started in July, with the first members of the team arriving at Krzesiny on July 14, and the first trucks loaded on July 16 and then traveling from Sanem, Luxembourg, to Poland that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About 60 airmen from 13 different active, reserve and Air National Guard squadrons participated in the exercise. But of that, only a handful of airmen in leadership positions were given full insight into what to prepare for on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe wanted to see how they would do it. Clean slate, tabula rasa, how these engineers would set up the tents,\u201d John said. \u201cMaybe they\u2019d do it better than we planned, or different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In total, 87 trucks, two C-130J military transport aircraft and a train moved the equivalent of 321 pallets of equipment \u2014 including about 60 vehicles and 161 containers \u2014 into Poland by July 31. That same day, airmen began sending materiel back to Luxemburg, with 25 trucks departing Krzesiny once everything had been received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first equipment to arrive were things like forklifts and other vehicles needed for moving equipment. Following close behind were the materials needed to stand up the tent city \u2014 temporary housing, a main dining hall, shower facilities and a kitchen (port-a-potties were contracted by the service, but a real DABS would include latrines). Later on, two C-130 Hercules brought laundry facilities and air conditioning units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tech. Sgt. Dennis Ferguson, an engineering assistant, was one of the first airmen to arrive at Krzesiny on July 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen we showed up, this whole field was thigh- to waist-high grass. The Polish knocked everything down for us. We leveled a little bit of stuff out, and then they filled in some holes for us that were out here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you look at a map, you can only see so much from an aerial picture. It might look like the greatest place in the world to put tents, and then you get there and it\u2019s low lying and it holds water or its full of holes and not exactly ideal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-smg-jwplayer-video\"><atype-video-jwplayer nostick=\"true\" playlisturl=\"https:\/\/cdn.jwplayer.com\/v2\/playlists\/fCzRqMW8?tags=e6696fb0-63c6-4df9-8daa-39744ab6db4a\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/video-poster-e6696fb0-63c6-4df9-8daa-39744ab6db4a.png\" aspectratio=\"16 \/ 9\" mute autostart=\"false\"><\/atype-video-jwplayer><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The U.S. Air Force is executing military-related construction projects across Europe as part of the European Deterrence Initiative.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From there, the engineers figured out how to lay out the camp and began constructing the facilities. While there were no major problems, the process didn\u2019t always go smoothly, Ferguson said. The main dining facility was a new piece of equipment that no one had experience setting up, and the written directions were packed in a separate box \u2014 turning its assembly into everyone\u2019s worst Ikea furniture nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, engineers realized they had put the tent city downwind from the port-a-potties and had to reorganize the camp to keep living quarters habitable. Air conditioning units broke and had to be repaired, generators needed to be refueled and fuel consumption had to be monitored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s always something to improve on,\u201d Ferguson said. \u201cAs soon as everything is set up, there\u2019s always something that\u2019s going to go wrong. If it\u2019s mechanical, it\u2019s going to break.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2018\/08\/27\/mq-9-reaper-drones-in-romania-it-could-happen-soon\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"182\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4015227.jpg_b45155.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">MQ-9 Reaper drones in Romania? It could happen soon<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The U.S. has built facilities that could shelter MQ-9s on Romanian soil.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>A little help from the Army<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another learning experience for the Air Force was using a train to transport goods; the service normally doesn\u2019t rely on railroads and wanted to \u201cstress test\u201d that capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re looking at all of our different options because in a contingency environment, if we don\u2019t have enough trucks or we don\u2019t have enough planes, we can use trains,\u201d John explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this exercise, the Air Force contracted with a commercial freight company, filling 19 rail cars with 31 shipping containers and 13 vehicles. It also leaned on the expertise of U.S. Army personnel temporarily deployed to Poland to provide logistical support for Operation Atlantic Resolve, the name for the U.S. mission meant to strengthen ties between NATO allies and other partners in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the train showed up, it wasn\u2019t configured in a way that made it easy to offload, said Staff Sgt. Zane Trapp, a movement supervisor for the Army\u2019s 612th Movement Control Team, which helped the Air Force with customs paperwork, getting diplomatic clearances and transportation logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey probably didn\u2019t know what it would look like at the download site, but we did,\u201d he said. \u201cWe sent the train back out [from the loading dock] and reconfigured it. It took about an hour. And then the download took about two and a half hours, versus about five or six if it wasn\u2019t reconfigured.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Trapp was explaining the reconfiguring process, Tech Sgt. Michael Creech, who led the Air Force\u2019s transportation efforts during the exercises, dropped by to greet Trapp and thank him for helping out with the paperwork needed to get 25 trucks worth of equipment shipped out that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is one heck of a ride today,\u201d Creech said, taking a short break for a minute in the air-conditioned dining tent \u2014 a welcome respite from the hot, muggy summer day. \u201cWe\u2019ve got 11 [vehicles] done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have the rest of the forms too,\u201d Trapp said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m glad you did. That was like a weight off the shoulders, too, because [I\u2019m] running back and forth out there,\u201d Creech replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Creech left to finish up a long day\u2019s work, Trapp commended the effort that he and other airmen were putting into the exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTwenty-five trucks is a lot when you&#8217;re working in an expeditionary type of environment. I have a forklift. I have a crane. I don&#8217;t really have established throughput and stuff that can stack things up for me quickly,\u201d he said. &#8220;Most of the vehicles we have require a dock, so a lot of the times we can only do two trucks at a time, if that.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proof of concept was designed to stress how much the Air Force could bring into a new base and how quickly it could be done. Much of the equipment moved into the area \u2014 large shipping containers filled with thousands of tons of concrete slabs to enable maintenance work, heavy high-voltage power generators that would be necessary to power a larger deployment \u2014 went unused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have roughly an average of receiving 10 to 15 trucks a day. How much more than that are we able to handle is what we\u2019re trying to figure out. Then we\u2019ll come up with the maximum amount of the vehicles, trains, planes that we could receive in one day,\u201d John said. \u201cWhat is the fastest time frame to move all of this equipment?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That may seem like a really simple exercise on paper, but logistics can break down on the smallest details, he said. Not being able to support flying operations for even a single day can have major consequences in a conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re proving our ability to respond to any activity or any kind of contingency anywhere within our [area of responsibility],\u201d John said. \u201cNo matter where it is, no matter where we need to go, we\u2019re proving that we can do it rapidly and effectively and be able to build up air power rapidly in a very flexible way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Where\u2019s the Prime BEEF?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force already fields a number of organizations that enable a more expeditionary form of operations. It has established RED HORSE squadrons \u2014 short for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer \u2014 that can deploy to an area and conduct heavy construction, like building runways or performing major airfield repairs, and sustain itself for several months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prime BEEF (base engineer emergency force) teams, which can deploy to do more minor construction work, have been around since the Vietnam War. And the service has also created \u201cHarvest Eagle\u201d and \u201cHarvest Falcon\u201d kits that would allow the Air Force to stand up shelters, latrines, messing and other basic facilities in austere environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"814\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/120322-F-GL802-001.JPG.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-82398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/120322-F-GL802-001.JPG.jpg 650w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/120322-F-GL802-001.JPG.jpg?resize=240,300 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 482nd Prime Base Engineering and Emergency Force displays the squadron emblem. (Senior Airman Jacob Jimenez\/U.S. Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So what\u2019s the difference between all of those organizations and DABS?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s a bigger umbrella,\u201d Agustin explained, himself a former RED HORSE and Prime BEEF engineer. Engineers and equipment from RED HORSE and Prime BEEF squadrons are part of the DABS concept. And compared to Harvest Eagle and Harvest Falcon, the DABS comprises a more diverse kit of equipment that includes medical support, various vehicles for transportation and construction, and tools for setting up airfield operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another major difference is that DABS will be pre-positioned in Europe at locations including Sanem, Ramstein Air Base and RAF Fairford, allowing them to deploy more quickly than the Harvest Eagle and Harvest Falcon sets in the face of a crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat took us 120-plus days as we shipped from Holloman Air Base in New Mexico to this theater now is [taking] one day from Sanem to here,\u201d Agustin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This first proof of concept didn\u2019t involve supporting a full-up flying squadron, but Prime BEEF engineers got the chance to do some airfield maintenance for Poland on July 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using a \u201cSustainment Pavement Repair\u201d kit containing tools, a concrete mixer and materials like asphalt, a team of engineers fixed a sinkhole located on one of the base\u2019s maintenance aprons. After digging the loose gravel out of the hole, the airmen used a chainsaw to dislodge damaged concrete before filling it with asphalt and repaving it with concrete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you forward deploy this DABS, anything can happen to a runway to damage it,\u201d John said. \u201cThis is just more practice for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next DABS exercise hasn\u2019t been greenlighted yet, but it\u2019s likely the Air Force will want to test whether it can be used by airmen to sustain a full expeditionary camp and to keep a combat squadron flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs we get more of these equipment delivered,&#8221; Agustin said, &#8220;I think we definitely want to see if we can deploy and employ a greater part of this capability.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. Air Force is getting more expeditionary thanks to a new kit that will enable the 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By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>US Air Force tests \u2018base in a box\u2019 in Poland to prep for future wars - Air Force TImes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The U.S. Air Force is getting more expeditionary thanks to a new kit that will enable the service to rapidly move to a partner nation\u2019s airfield, set up a squadron and begin flying combat missions.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"US Air Force tests \u2018base in a box\u2019 in Poland to prep for future wars\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The U.S. Air Force is getting more expeditionary thanks to a new kit that will enable the service to rapidly move to a partner nation\u2019s airfield, set up a squadron and begin flying combat missions.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/08\/27\/us-air-force-tests-base-in-a-box-in-poland-to-prep-for-future-wars\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Air Force TImes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-08-27T00:00:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-07T23:06:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Valerie Insinna\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Valerie Insinna\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" 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