Photo By Sgt. Brian Johnson | Unit members from Company A, 216th Engineers, pour concrete on their jobsite at the...... read more read more
Specialist Brian Johnson, Unit Public Affairs Representative
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The members of Company A, 216th Engineer Battalion recently completed their yearly required annual training. For them, this is the final annual training as Company A. In September, 2006, they will reform as part of the Army’s transformation place and become the 1194th Engineer Company.
During this annual training, Company A was involved in some major construction projects at the Ravenna Training and Logistics Site or RTLS site in North East Ohio. Unit First Sergeant, Christopher Wisner, of Portsmouth, said the unit was working on three different constructions projects. The first site consisted of construction of road bed turn pads for artillery. The second construction project consisted of Tank Recovery Site, so tanks could be recovered after becoming mired in swampy conditions. The third site was a rail loading ramp. This would allow for tanks and other very heavy equipment to be loaded easily onto rail cars for movement to where ever they may be needed.
Unit Commander, Captain Donald Westfall said of the annual training experience, “This was a great opportunity to prove the units competencies. We were able to overcome a delayed schedule and perform the mission to the satisfaction of the higher headquarters. The non commissioned officers did an outstanding job at perpetuating a positive attitude. I’ve never been more impressed with the company. We worked hard, planned effectively, and got we got the job done. We’ve left a lasting impression with several of the commands around Ohio. Most of the work performed will help the Armor Brigade perform their missions. That’s what Engineers do.”
The rail loading ramp was one of the more comprehensive work sites. Second Lieutenant Travis Ressler of Dublin said, “The end result will be that the ramp will be able to support the tanks which weigh over 70 tons. On this site, we had to bring in fill and compact it. From there, we put concrete on top of it. By the time we are done, we will have poured over 150 yards of concrete in two days.”
While talking to some of the unit members on the site, they had many positive things to say about the experience. Private First Class Nathan Osborne of Washington Courthouse said, “I feel this is good practice with my military construction training. It is good hands on experience for me.”
Spc. Martin Sanders of Bowling Green also felt that this was helping him to keep his skills sharp. “This is very hard work. It also has been very good for helping do a lot of team building between the different platoons.”
Spc. Mike Becker of Columbus felt that the unit really gelled well. He said, “We all bring strengths to annual training. These strengths have helped make missions easier and have allowed many people to become leaders.”
During part of Company A’s time at the RTLS site, the weather was extremely hot with high levels of humidity.
Sgt. Emily Newberry of Cincinnati was the job site medic. She said, “The soldiers are adapting to the heat well. They are drinking a lot of water and really watching out for each other. They are a great group of guys.” Newberry said the only injuries that they had experienced during the training were some minor cuts and a sunburn.
The annual training was not all about construction. Unit members went through defensive driving courses, vehicle and equipment training as well as the chance to drive in a convoy. Some had never had that experience before. Other’s had the experience while they were in Iraq, but in different ways. Pfc. Osborne was primarily a gunner during the unit’s time in Iraq. Pfc. Osborne said, “It was a new experience for me. I had not driven in a convoy before. I was always a gunner in Iraq. I learned many new things.
At the end of the two weeks, unit members were glad to return back to Chillicothe knowing that they had accomplished another mission.
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2015 23:25 |
| Story ID: | 159055 |
| Location: | CHILLICOTHE, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 39 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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