Photo By Sgt. Michael Ito | Cpl. Martin Larson, a combat engineer with Engineer Company A, 6th Engineer Support...... read more read more
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MOUNT HOPE, W.Va. – Pfc. Brady Lyons wanted to be a pilot when he joined the Marine Corps Reserve in July of 2011. After exploring his options a little bit more, he decided to go a different direction. Then, in February of 2012, when he graduated the Basic Combat Engineer Course and became qualified for his military occupational specialty, he decided that he had made the right decision.
“This is an MOS that I fell in love with,” said Lyons, a combat engineer with Engineer Company A, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group. “I didn’t have much experience fixing stuff or building, but after I got to school and I saw what they build and what they do, I really got into it.”
A combat engineer in the Marine Corps is responsible for vertical construction, general engineering, bridge building, double-apron fences, wire obstacles, demolition, route and area clearance and mine sweeping.
“Engineers are very important to anyone that needs mobility, counter mobility, survivability, power or water,” said Maj. Brooke Speers, Inspector-Instructor for Engineer Support Co., which is based in Battle Creek, Mich. “There is a huge gap without engineers. The sustainment of any site would be incredibly difficult were there not engineers.”
Engineers and the associated military occupational specialties like equipment operators and mechanics are spread throughout the Marine Corps in two basic groups: Combat Engineer Battalions and Engineer Support Battalions.
The entire Marine Corps needs engineers, said Speers, whether through general support or direct support.
“Our job affects everyone else in the Corps,” said Lyons. “Our attention to detail is tremendous, and it has to be. If we’re sweeping for mines and not paying attention, we could kill ourselves or somebody else. Or if we’re even one-eighteenth of an inch off on a cut, it could affect our entire build or even the safety of the building.”
That is only one of the reasons leadership is so important in this occupational field said Sgt. Paul Spies, a combat engineer with Engineer Company A.
“The engineer field is different from most jobs,” said Spies. “What we do requires a lot of planning, but at the same time, we have to fix stuff when it breaks. So, as a leader, it’s a balancing act between proper planning and quick and effective reactions.”
Lyons, who currently works as a truck driver in his civilian life around the Eugene, Ore. area, says that almost every skill he’s learned as an engineer is transferable into the civilian world.
“I drive by places every day and see a variety of jobs where I can say, ‘I know how to do that,’ or ‘I remember when I did that,’” he said. “The skills I have now and the valuable lessons that I’ve learned will be with me for the rest of my life.”
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2012 10:18 |
| Story ID: | 91882 |
| Location: | BECKLEY, WEST VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 161 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Combat Engineers Fulfill Vital Role in Corps, by SGT Michael Ito, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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