Photo By Sgt. Devin Wood | Sgt. Robert Wright, a team leader with the 2225th MRBC, operates a twin diesel engine...... read more read more
SLIDELL, La. - How would you like to face the crashing waves of the Louisiana Gulf in small boats and build a bridge at the same time? For the Guardsmen of the 2225th Multi-Role Bridge Company, this is just another day at the office. From deploying to Afghanistan and supporting missions ranging from hurricane relief to oil spill cleanups and even water rescue, the 2225th MRBC can do it all.
According to Lt. Col. Chad Herndon, commander of the 205th Engineer Battalion, the 2225th has been in the forefront ever since Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana Coast in 2005.
“The governor knows that he has this asset,” said Herndon.
Working in relief of disasters such Katrina and the 2010 Gulf Oil spill has provided these Guardsmen with a lot of valuable experience, and according to Herndon it shows in their work.
“This unit serves as a model on how to do it,” said Herdon.
For Staff Sgt. Ashley Biagas and a couple of the other career Soldiers present, they find the work challenging and rewarding.
“The key is prepping, takes about a second for it (bay) to fly off and open in the water,” Biagas claims with a smile.
Biagas follows up by explaining that the bay, or the interior section of the bridge, goes in first; you can launch two bays at the same time, and you can follow up and launch a ramp in about two minutes.
Before the Sun fully makes its way above Lacombe Bayou on March 8, 2015, the 2225th combat engineers lower several twin diesel engine boats into the water for a bridging exercise. The mission is to practice assembling a section of Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) that would be used to allow movement of heavy equipment and troops across water where there is no bridge access.
The IRB is assembled by dropping individual sections (Bays) into the water. After the bays are dropped, retrieval boats occupied by a bridging crew take control of the bays and connect them together. After the bays have been connected, the crew then drops a ramp into the water and connects it as well. The ramp is used for loading and unloading equipment onto the bridge.
For Soldiers of the 2225th, this is not a meaningless exercise. It's a reminder of past events and preparation effort for the future.
During the cleanup efforts in the wake of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the 2225th MRB used IRB's to carry heavy equipment and oil booms through river channels down to the barrier islands of Louisiana. According to Sgt. Robert Wright, a team leader and boat operator for the 2225th, it's events like the oil spill that can be used to remind younger Soldiers they have a real-life mission and must take training seriously.
“These exercises are great to help new soldiers remain proficient on their equipment,” said Sgt. Robert Wright, a team leader and boat operator for the 2225th.
According to First Lt. Jeffery Roach, a platoon leader with the 2225th, only about a third of current Soldiers have bridging experience, but those that do really know their stuff and enjoy the job.
The training is “slow and deliberate,” said Roach, so that they can get everyone up to speed.
The day's training is a practical exercise in preparation for a upcoming Disaster Relief Exercise (DRX) taking place in April with multiple government agencies represented.
According to Capt. Martin Kenneth, 205th Engineer Battalion, An exercise of this type presents the opportunity for the Army's largest bridging company to showcase their abilities to federal agencies in case of a disaster event.
For the Guardsmen of the 2225th Multi-Role Bridge Company, crashing waves and cruising in small boats is just another day at the office. From deploying to Afghanistan, providing hurricane relief and even oil spill cleanups and water rescue, the 2225th MRBC can do it all.
| Date Taken: | 03.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.25.2015 21:06 |
| Story ID: | 158104 |
| Location: | SLIDELL, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 189 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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