Engineers: different uniforms, identical mission

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Devin Nichols | Soldiers with the Bermuda Regiment listen to instructions on how to use the MK III Bridge Erection Boats from Marines with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group during Exercise Island Warrior aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 7, 2013. Bermuda Regiment gun assault pioneers, or engineers, mostly use their abilities for humanitarian tasks, but came abroad to expand their knowledge as engineers and learned how to build and move Improved Ribbon Bridges in the water.  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

05.13.2013

Story by Lance Cpl. Devin Nichols 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Exchanging words and laughter, one person speaks with a foreign accent while the other has a deep southern twang. Both the servicemembers bear uniforms dedicating themselves to their country. However, these two share something similar – they are both engineers.

Marines with Bridge Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group trained approximately 15 soldiers with the Bermuda Regiment, based out of the Islands of Bermuda, during Exercise Island Warrior at Engineer Point here, May 7 and 8.

“It is a terrific experience coming here to get this training,” said Lance Cpl. Joshua C. V. Iris, a gun assault pioneer with the Bermuda Regiment. “Coming to the United States allows us to broaden our horizon and brings us better opportunities.”

Soldiers from the Bermuda Regiment came from a 20.6 square-mile island, smaller than the city of Miami, to cross-train with different units aboard Camp Lejeune.

“We come from an island where we have limited space to train,” said Iris. “I like having access to the tools needed to perform the tasks as an engineer here. The [Marines] have everything they need.”

Marines with 8th ESB gave classes and hands-on instructions to use the MK III Bridge Erection Boat, or MK III BEB, and how to use the boat to assemble and move Improved Ribbon Bridges, or IRBs.

Bermuda Regiment soldiers learned various ways to push the bridges in the water. The water current and wind distinguishes how the bridge will travel. Diverse types of rafting are used so IRBs can be moved upstream, parallel of the bridge or horizontally, to arrive to its destination.

“They are asking a lot of questions and they are very excited about learning the capabilities of these boats,” said Cpl. Erikon C. Rosamond, a Kosciusko, Miss., native and combat engineer with Bridge Co. “It is an honor to have another country come out here and train with us. It feels good to be able to pass the knowledge to others.”

After classes about the nomenclature and characteristics of the MK III BEB, the soldiers of the Bermuda Regiment ventured onto the water and performed practical applications under the supervision of experienced Marine Corps operators.

“My favorite part was the hands-on training with the boats and getting to use them,” said Iris. “This will benefit us when we go back because we are used to a limited amount of tasks, but now we know more.”

• Date Taken: 05.13.2013
• Date Posted: 05.13.2013 11:46
• Story ID: 106838
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US
• Hometown: KOSCIUSKO, MS, US