South Carolina RED HORSE helps Navajo in New Mexico Published Aug. 8, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Scott Mathews 315 Airlift Wing Public Affairs GALLUP, N.M. -- As the early morning sun begins to light up the sky in western New Mexico, more than 20 reservists from the 560th RED HORSE Squadron start their workday. The Airmen are from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and belong to a unit called a rapid engineer deployable, heavy operational repair squadron engineer. They are in Gallup building homes for needy families who are part of the Navajo Indian Nation. This project, headed up by the Southwest Indian Foundation with help from the Air Force Reserve Command, has been going on for more than 10 years. "This has been an ongoing project for many years and has helped many needy Navajo families," said Chief Master Sgt. Ray Eanes,. "This group is here for two weeks. There will be a total of five two-week rotations from Charleston AFB." Chief Eanes arrived in Gallup June 13 and expects to stay in New Mexico until the last group leaves. "There are a few us who are here for the duration so there can be some continuity on the project," said Chief Eanes. The goal is to have a total of five houses completed over the 10-week project period. The homes are built in phases from the ground up in a Southwest Indian Foundation warehouse. Phase 1 includes the structure, the floor foundation, the walls and roof. Phase 2 consists of the drywall, doors, windows, electrical, plumbing, flooring, texturing and painting. Phase 3 is when the final touches are put on the home, such as the cabinets, fixtures and bathroom contents. "After the homes are completed and inspected by the Southwest Indian Foundation , they are brought out to the home sites, put on foundations and given to the needy Navajo families," said Capt. Christopher Hinson of the 560th RHS. Captain Hinson views this project as a win-win for everyone involved. "This is great training for our guys, and we get to help people at the same time," he said.