Photo By Tech. Sgt. Dustin Mullen | U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Lance Cpl. Dakota Hospelhorn, 346th Air Expeditionary Group...... read more read more
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METETI, Panama – Effective teamwork can be a force multiplier in the world’s ever-changing environment, and Exercise New Horizons 2018 helps familiarize multiple facets of the U.S. armed forces to work effectively as a team.
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Marines from the 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Peoria, Illinois, work alongside U.S. Air Force Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard Airmen from the 820th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and support Airmen from all over the United States during Exercise New Horizons 2018.
Through six two-week rotations, teams of Marines provided support through both extra hands and various specialties, being their Military Occupational Specialty or civilian careers.
Marines such as Lance Cpl. Shane Navarro, who works as a full-time welder and sheet metal worker, and Sgt. Robert Grindley, a full-time electrician, were able to use their civilian experience to benefit the 346th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron team and provide different perspectives.
Navarro has been in the Marines for four years. With New Horizons 2018 being his first mission of this sort, he claims the training received has been “invaluable.”
“The training that I have received here, in terms of the obstacles I have had to overcome, is something I am going to remember for future assignments and even in my everyday work life,” Navarro said. “If we are in a situation where we don’t have something I need, I can use the experience from here to overcome those challenges.”
Grindley echoed his excitement for the valuable training provided by an exercise like this.
“[This exercise] is really teaching us to be more resourceful, think on our feet and be a little more creative,” Grindley said. “It is forcing us to open our minds and we can take that [knowledge] back stateside and use that experience, where maybe I won’t have what I need but can work around it.”
Each rotation of Marines offers fresh hands, different perspectives and a renewed vigor to get the job done. While the majority of the incoming Marines are combat engineers, trained as a jack-of-all-trades, some offer more specialized skillsets.
“We were told our welders were going to be present on this annual training,” Navarro said. “We weren’t positive on what we would be doing, however we are prepared to our job anywhere for any reason. We are never really caught off guard. Your training is always in the back of your brain, so matter what we are doing, we are able to get it done.”
Navarro’s MOS is as a metal worker. His trade is not only what he does for the Marine Corps Reserves, but also what he does in his day job.
“I took welding classes all through high school and vocational courses in community college,” Navarro said. “It wasn’t until after I enlisted that I applied to be a sheet metal worker in Illinois. Being a welder in the Marine Corps really stood out on my application, and I think that played a big part on me getting the job.”
He recently completed his second year of architectural sheet metal training, part of a 4-year formal apprenticeship education. Being part of the New Horizons 2018 team during the roofing phase of construction, his training helped him immerge as an effective team member.
“It landed me perfect on this team, because I was able to share ideas and experiences.” Navarro said, also giving a nod to his work sites project manager, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ryan Montoya. “I have learned a lot from Sgt. Montoya and his crew, they are very highly trained and experienced.”
For Grindley, whose MOS is combat engineer, his work in the civilian sector offered specialized electrical help, even to help train the two Marine electricians on the team already.
“I got into [electrical work] about 3 years ago, with 1 year left on my apprenticeship,” Grindley said. “I have a lot of commercial side experience, which is how the buildings are being constructed, so it’s very familiar and in my element.”
The 346th ERHS electricians jump from work site to work site, installing the electrical elements. Grindley and the Marine electricians were able to enhance their team, speeding up the process and offering different ideas.
Working together, the entire team was able to cut a 3-day estimated project down to only two days, which includes the time it took to troubleshoot problems. U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cameron Steele, 346th EHRS electrician noted that the team’s experience made that possible
“We are able to get things done a lot faster than we thought,” Steele said. “Everybody has different experiences, and with [Grindley] being on the outside in the civilian sector doing these things, he brings something to the table, and my active military experience brings thing to the table. Their team was an immense help.”
| Date Taken: | 05.30.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2018 15:59 |
| Story ID: | 278895 |
| Location: | METETI, PA |
| Web Views: | 252 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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