505th Engineer Combat Battalion completes 9-month deployment, welcomes 92nd Engineer Battalion

Courtesy Photo | CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT – The 92nd Engineer Battalion stands ready to accept the mission. (U.S. Army photo by Chief Warrant Officer Two Brenda Parks)  

KUWAIT

08.12.2018

Courtesy Story

Task Force Spartan

By Capt. Tom Murry
505 ECB Unit Public Affairs Representative

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – The 505th Engineer Combat Battalion, a North Carolina Army National Guard unit from Gastonia, N.C., has successfully completed its nine-month deployment in the Middle East in support of Operations Spartan Shield, Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve.
Col. Anthony Adrian, commander of the 35th Engineer Brigade, Task Force Muleskinner, praised the 505th during a transfer of authority ceremony on Aug. 12, where he also welcomed the incoming unit, the 92nd Engineer Battalion, an active duty Army unit from Ft. Stewart, Ga.
“Immediately upon arrival, Task Force Havoc was ordered to deploy two companies forward to set conditions for the success of the theater’s top priority, the arrival of the 1st Security Forces Assistance Brigade (SFAB), allowing them to transition to the enhanced train, advise, and assist mission,” Adrian said. “You name it, their companies built it.”
Operating as Task Force Havoc, the 505th provided the full range of engineer functions in seven countries. The unit’s Soldiers completed 125 major construction projects and more than 100 work orders, valued at more than $53 million. Task Force Havoc Soldiers executed expeditionary construction and general engineering in support of operational commanders, including deploying half the battalion to Afghanistan to support the timely insertion of the 1st SFAB.
In words of welcome to the 92nd, Adrian said, “Your outstanding reputation precedes you, and I’m confident in your knowledge and that you will assume this mission with ease, and continue to improve engineer operations across your area of operations.”
Commander of Task Force Havoc Lt. Col. Frank Poovey, commended the Soldiers of the 505th, saying, “I am extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished. As citizen-Soldiers, you placed your lives on hold for more than a year to be here and to truly make a difference, which you most certainly have done.
“Our success was the result of outstanding officer and NCO leadership at the company level and below, and exemplary performance from our battalion staff. They represented Task Forces Muleskinner and Havoc with the utmost professionalism, while delivering exceptional results at every turn.”
Poovey offered words of welcome to the 92nd Engineer Battalion, the “Black Diamond” Battalion. He commented on the historical background of the 92nd’s lineage going back to World War II.
“The 92nd has etched its name in military history books as being one of the very best units, not just of engineer battalions, but units, in the Army inventory.”
He provided words of encouragement, saying, “You have all the tools necessary to forge new ground and further etch your place in engineer history, so ‘Get There!’”
Lt. Col. Perry Stiemke, commander of the 92nd Engineer Battalion, accepted the mission with great confidence and enthusiasm, and thanked the 505th for the support during the relief in place process.
“Thank you for a solid handoff,” said Stiemke. “We are truly impressed with the accomplishments of Task Force Havoc and you have set a pretty high benchmark of success for us to strive towards.”
In addition to the 505th HHC and FSC transferring authority to their counterparts from the 92nd, the 1020th Engineer Company (Vertical), based out of Marksville, La., as part of the Louisiana Army National Guard, transferred authority to the 526th Engineer Company, an organic unit of the 92nd from Ft. Stewart, Ga. The 659th Engineer Construction Company, an Army Reserve unit based out of Spokane, Wash., transferred authority to the 554th Engineer Company, also organic to the 92nd Engineer Battalion.
On June 21, the 306th Engineer Company (Vertical), an Army Reserve unit based out of Farmingdale, N.Y., transferred authority to the 851st Vertical Engineer Company, a Minnesota Army National Guard unit, based out of Camp Ripley, Minn.
Additionally, on June 22, the 186th Engineer Company (Horizontal), an Alabama Army National Guard unit, based out of Dothan, Ala., transferred authority to the 721st Engineer Construction Company, an Army Reserve unit based out of Grand Prairie, Texas.

• Date Taken: 08.12.2018
• Date Posted: 08.21.2018 08:27
• Story ID: 289596
• Location: KW