"Triple Nickel's" 14th Engineer Battalion concludes Route Clearance Academy

Courtesy Photo | A graduate of the third and final class of the Route Clearance Academy shakes hands with Iraqi Brig. Gen. Nabeel, as Lt. Col. Peter Helmlinger, the 14th Engineer Battalion commander, looks on.  

TALLIL AIR BASE, IRAQ

12.02.2008

Courtesy Story

555th Engineer Brigade

By Sgt. Kelly D. Hanf
555th Engineer Brigade

TALLIL, Iraq – The 555th Engineer Brigade's 14th Engineer Battalion, concluded their Route Clearance Academy on Dec. 2, by graduating the third and final class of Iraqi army engineers. The Route Clearance Academy was an important aspect of the critical partnership mission of the brigade in an effort to turn missions and responsibilities over to the people and government of Iraq.

The Route Clearance Academy trained Iraqi army engineers to find and clear roadside bombs to keep the roads safe for coalition forces, Iraqi security forces and the people of Iraq. The Route Clearance Academy combined classroom lecture and hands on training. The graduates will conduct missions alongside the Sappers of the 14th Engineer Bn. and eventually take over the mission completely.

The commander of the 14th Engineer Bn., Lt. Col. Peter Helmlinger, addressed the graduates by saying, "Our motto is "Rugged", which means tough and strong, and after finishing this course you are "Rugged", and in the near future we look forward to conducting route clearance missions together as partners."

The 555th Engineer Brigade's Command Sgt. Maj. Mathew Thomas, who attended the graduation ceremony, expressed his gratitude to both the 14th Engineer Bn. and the graduates, "The instructors and the graduates of the Route Clearance Academy should be proud of what they have accomplished here. Not only have the Iraqi engineers been trained to keep the roads of Iraq safe, but they made great sacrifices and contributions toward the greater goal, which is turning Iraq back over to the Iraqi government and, most importantly, the Iraqi people."

• Date Taken: 12.02.2008
• Date Posted: 12.09.2008 10:02
• Story ID: 27372
• Location: TALLIL AIR BASE, IQ