Cadets participate in annual FERL training Published June 16, 2014 U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Dozens of Civil Engineering 251 cadets are training now through June 20 at the the Field Engineering and Readiness Laboratory in Jacks Valley. The annual lab trains cadets in heavy equipment, constructing homes, surveying, pouring concrete and asphalt, carpentry and more. Hands-on activities include operating construction equipment/vehicles, welding and building structures. During FERL, cadets from the Air Force, Annapolis, and West Point build hogans in halves to be loaded on semi-trailers and transported by the Southwest Indian Foundation to the reservation. Along with the cadets, active Guard and Reserve Civil Engineers also participate in FERL.