Sand and Sweat: the Volunteer Effort Transforming Camp Buehring Kuwait

Despite the extreme heat, command leadership at Camp Buehring partnered with the American Red Cross to turn grunt work into an engaging volunteer challenge, attracting units from across the base.

Soldiers in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, are sandbagging! But it’s not how you think.

Operation Scorpion Sands, part of a Force Protection initiative, promises to produce 85,000 sandbags for bunker reinforcements by December 2025, and it’s being done entirely by volunteers.

“Operation Scorpion Sands was born from a desire to turn a mandatory task of filling sandbags into something that could boost morale,” explained First Lieutenant James D. Glass, Base Support Battalion (BSB), Officer in Charge of Force Protection for Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

It wasn’t an easy pitch. Summers in Kuwait are long, hot and dry with temperatures routinely spiking as high as 122 degrees. How could he turn this into something soldiers would choose to spend their time doing? He decided to partner with the American Red Cross and their expeditionary staff on base.

“I approached the Red Cross because of their consistent support downrange and their ability to transform tasks into moments of connection and purpose,” said Lt. Glass.

The American Red Cross is congressionally chartered to deliver emergency communications to DoD service members and independently verify the circumstances for military commands. On Camp Buehring, two expeditionary staffers fulfill this mission in addition to morale activities such as operating a Respite Center, holding Fundamentals of Finance classes, gardening club, and engaging approximately 200 on-base volunteers. Among them is Specialist Heather Trentham.

Spc. Trentham, an 88H, was determined to make the most of her deployment. Her commander, First Lieutenant Zachary A. Taylor, said the cargo specialist approached him seeking additional ways to advance her career while deployed. She and her section were encouraged to volunteer for Operation Scorpion Sands.

“I was a little bit hesitant taking on a new challenge,” shared Spc. Trentham, who had her own battles happening at home: being a mother to her two boys, a seven-year-old and a five-year-old with autism.

“At first it was hard to adjust to not being the main caretaker anymore,” she admitted. But through regular communication, she worked with the teachers to accommodate her schedule with her son. Even on rougher days, she’s able to take “the extra time” to talk with him about his favorite things, like "Toy Story".

“Motherhood has definitely helped me be a better soldier,” she said. “Everything I do, I keep my children in mind while doing it.”

It was her love for them that encouraged her to aspire for more. She decided to make the stretch and volunteer with the Red Cross.

“I thought it would be a great opportunity,” she shared. “I wanted to pick up on volunteering again while I have the time.”

When Spc. Trentham, Lt. Taylor, and their teammates showed up to their first shift, they were surprised to see volunteers using the very same tactical vehicles and military forklifts they used in their jobs every day. Their expertise was immediately welcomed and Spc. Trentham took pride in getting a chance to hone her skills.

“I liked it a lot and wanted to keep going with my team because it was something new and I thought there would be great cross training experience for my MOS. Lt. Taylor going out there with us definitely motivated me,” explained Spc. Trentham.

While she and her team filled sandbags, Red Cross expeditionary staffers helped liven the mood with music, cold water and ice pops during sessions where despite the heat, Spc Trentham and other volunteers found moments of respite. They huddled up, cracked jokes, laughed together, then went back to digging. Not only was Spc. Trentham growing professionally; she was actually having fun.

“When soldiers come together when deployed and build new relationships, it can then transform into a lasting friendship long after the military,” said Command Sargeant Major Johnathan D. Gurrero of Camp Buehring Kuwait. “When soldiers not only come together to work, but more importantly to grow, then as an Army we are stronger.”

Together, Spc. Trentham’s unit has volunteered over 2,000 hours and contributed to a running total of over 31,000 sandbags which will be used to protect the CBKU community. She and others were presented the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) in late July before shipping back stateside.

“We have grown into a good team over the last few months, and it has allowed us to build a bond,” reflected Spc. Trentham. “It has created positive memories.”

The Base Commander of Camp Buehring, Lieutenant Colonel Elliot S. Grant, said when speaking on the whole operation that, “the most precious resource we have within the US military is our people. Our Red Cross teammates understand that and go far above and beyond to help us take care of our people. We worked together to fill over 31,000 sandbags and placed them around the housing areas for men and women on Camp, to increase our chances of survivability from an attack. This is a small example of the huge impact of our partnership with the Red Cross.”

The American Red Cross cares for the humanitarian needs of our nation’s service members while stationed abroad, even in the most austere environments. Visit Redcross.org/OCONUS to learn more ways we support active-duty service members and military personnel when they’re far from home.