Photo By Capt. Daisy Bueno | (From left) Pvt. Milo White, Pvt. Robbie Keller, Pvt. Michael Ireland and Spec. Joshua...... read more read more
POHAKULOA, Hawaii - Securing forward operating bases is a common and important role for the U.S. military in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.
To assist in preparation for future deployments to those countries, the 82nd Engineer Support Company constructed a FOB, here, at the Pohakuloa Training Area.
The engineers' main mission during their PTA rotation, June 1-19, was to create a perimeter for FOB Warrior. The engineers cleared trees and brush, removed the top organic layer of soil, and leveled and compacted the perimeter to accommodate a metal barrier for the FOB.
"When you go downrange, missions like this will come up; we find the proper placing for a FOB and clear the area," said Spc. Joshua Permenter, senior equipment operator. "This was a great opportunity...to work through the procedures for placement of a FOB and to work around natural obstacles."
The barrier walls were hand-built by aligning pieces of sheet metal and then sliding pins at the corners to connect them. Heavy equipment was used to fill the center of the walls with rocks and fill material to keep it in place as well as create a protective barrier.
The perimeter is about 1,900 meters of barrier wall. Each platoon had a mission: 1st Platoon cleared and grubbed the area, 2nd Platoon executed quarry and dump operations, and 3rd Platoon graded and compacted.
"The best thing about working out here is that we have guys straight out of [advanced individual training], and I get to train them and give them hands-on instruction," said Sgt. Scott Brooks, construction equipment operations team leader. "I can let them do some work on their own, evaluate what they did and then give them feedback and corrections."
In addition to the 82nd ESC Soldiers working on the FOB, 11 Marines and one corpsman from Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, assisted in the construction of the perimeter wall.
"It's been a great team effort working on this FOB," said Gunnery Sgt. Andrew Yellope, Marine Corps liaison at PTA. "This FOB will not only be used by Marines in Hawaii, but Marines in Okinawa and even California."
Last January, Marines from Camp Pendleton, Calif., stopped at PTA for some training while they were on a vessel en route to their deployment location.
"The environment here is unique to train in," said Yellope. "The high altitude, high winds, cold weather, and cinder that blows through the air simulates a deployed environment like Afghanistan."
Yellope also said 3,000 to 4,000 Marines train at PTA annually and that it's an important training location in the Pacific for the Marine Corps.
When completed, the FOB's perimeter walls will be eight feet tall and there will be check points at the entrance and exits.
The engineer company also made some time for esprit de corps events during their rotation at PTA. Ten Soldiers, to include the 82nd ESC first sergeant and commander, supported a 5K run in the city of Hilo in celebration of the Army birthday, which was hosted by U.S. Army Garrison-Pohakuloa.
And 45 Soldiers conducted a road march up Mauna Kea. They started at the visitors' center at 9,000 feet and went to the summit, eight miles one way. The top was 13,796 feet.
"The road march was difficult, but rewarding," said 2nd Lt. Michael McLaughlin, 1st Platoon leader. "You have 40-percent less oxygen up there than at sea level, which made it very challenging."
The FOB construction wasn't the only objective the 82nd ESC had during its rotation to PTA. The engineer company also trained on Soldier skils to include a convoy live fire, and small arms and crew serve ranges.
| Date Taken: | 06.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2009 22:22 |
| Story ID: | 37394 |
| Location: | POHAKULOA, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 405 |
| Downloads: | 190 |
This work, Schofield engineers build forward operating base at Pohakuloa, by CPT Daisy Bueno, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
