Photo By Ismael Ortega | Soldiers assigned to the 312th and the 461st Engineer Companies, both Army Reserve...... read more read more
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Army Reserve Soldiers from the Midwest states departed from Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group for a nine-month deployment to U.S. Central Command in support of Operation Spartan Shield. Having completed mobilization training with the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, the 312th (Vertical) Engineer Company from Duluth, Minnesota, and the 461st (Horizontal) Engineer Company from Fargo, North Dakota, will work with Middle Eastern partners and collations forces to help deter threats and build a more defensive posture on military installations.
Although deploying together, the engineer companies won’t necessarily overlap on every mission but both commanders leave with the intent to complete any and all constructions projects within the CENTCOM area of operations by utilizing their heavy equipment operators, masons, carpenters and engineers.
“The unit’s goal is to build as much as possible, I want to leave the 461st Eng. Co.’s name all over the CENTCOM (area of operation) as a unit that did whatever was asked of them and did it well,” Capt. Richard Osterberg commander, 461st Eng. Co., said.
“This deployment is something that we’re ready for. We’re trained, ready to fight, and we got some of the best Soldiers in the world,” Capt. Jared Emmert, commander, 312th Eng. Co., said. “Our task force did a great job preparing us on where we need to be in our engineering skill and mindsets and brought a lot more confidence into the younger Soldiers and (noncommissioned officers).”
A lot of young Soldiers will be deploying for the first time but like the older Soldiers, are looking forward to the task at hand. Many have volunteered from different units to fill vacancies within both companies and some are even deploying with the knowledge and experience gained from working construction jobs in the private sector.
“I’m glad that we get to do a positive mission so we could build and create goodness,” Osterberg said.
The culmination of their training reflected itself in the mission rehearsal exercise. After hundreds of hours were dedicated to online classes, rail loading operations and warfighting skills, Soldiers completed a construction project in a tactical environment.
“Soldiers were operating real world equipment, like (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles) that we don’t normally get a chance to use,” 1st Sgt. Kirk Lijestrom, first sergeant, 312th Eng. Co., said. “Fort Bliss really provided a realistic training environment.”
During the Mission rehearsal exercise, Soldiers convoyed to an assigned site, secured the area, set up security and proceeded to complete a construction project to Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.
Osterberg, who will deploying for the third time, harps on the importance of common Army skills learned from basic training. He attributes accountability, equipment maintenance, communication and knowledge as the keys to success in any mission. Drawing from his own experience, Emmert stressed the importance of family and camaraderie between the Soldiers.
Altogether though, the Soldiers are motivated to work and hope there’s enough projects to keep them occupied during the duration of the deployment.
“Together, this is a family,” Emmert said. “We need to take care of each other.”
| Date Taken: | 06.23.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.23.2016 10:24 |
| Story ID: | 202219 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | DULUTH, MINNESOTA, US |
| Hometown: | FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 542 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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