Photo By Capt. Maria Mengrone | Soldiers attach an improved ribbon bridge bay to the M1977 common boat transporter...... read more read more
EL CAMPO, TEXAS – With hurricane season upon us, the mission and critical skills recently obtained by soldiers assigned to the 551st Multi-Role Bridge Company, 386th Engineer Battalion, 176th Engineer Brigade has taken a much greater importance.
The arrival of new equipment consisting of boats, bays, and trucks has been a long time coming, not only for the unit, but for the Texas Army National Guard.
This is the first time the Texas guard will have a fully functional bridge unit since the mid-90s. Although much training is still required and equipment slotted for the unit is still years away, engineers are taking steps forward to become an operational bridge unit able to assist in defense support of civil authorities missions.
With the arrival of the new equipment, some 20 soldiers embarked on 28 days of operator new equipment training and field level maintenance new equipment training in June at Fort Hood, Texas.
“We hope the training will allow soldiers to gain the necessary skills to take equipment and employ their skills whether in combat or disaster relief expeditiously and safely,” said Darryl A. Glanders, military instructor and technical advisor with AM General Company and native of Mishawaka, Ind. “This is only the second time that we have had to cross train a stand up unit.”
The process to train soldiers on the new equipment ranged from licensing on the M1977 common bridge transporter, licensing emplacement and recovery of the bridge erection boat.
Culminating in a final test in which the unit successfully validated on the proper emplacement, recovery, and connection of the improved ribbon bridge bays.
“We hope they gain appreciation for what this equipment does and how they are going to use it having the tools and knowledge and bringing it all together,” said retired Sgt. 1st Class Lewis J. Trivett, military instructor and representative for TACOM Life Management Command and native of Macomb, Mich.
“I’m pretty confident I could put everything together and teach my peers what I have learned,” said Spc. Marquis C. Hammett a bridge crewmember with 551st MRBC of The Woodlands, Texas.
Aside from taking their learned skills back to the rest of their unit members, many of the soldiers understand the overall humanitarian benefits to their vital mission.
“My family got hit with Hurricane Ike when I was 16 and I felt helpless because I couldn’t do anything,” said, Spc. Ryan J. Sherman, a 19-year-old bridge crewman with 551st MRBC and native of Houston, Texas.
Sherman added, “I am honored to help and support, now my skills will be able to help others.”
| Date Taken: | 06.23.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2011 00:58 |
| Story ID: | 73978 |
| Location: | EL CAMPO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 569 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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