FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. – The sounds of hammers and circular saws fill the air around Tactical Training Base Ward on Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., Aug. 7.
Soldiers of the 465th Engineer Company out of Birmingham, Ala., are erecting a Southwest Asia Hut for their annual training in support of Castle Installation Related Construction.
“The training makes sure we are proficient in our (military occupational specialties),” said Sgt. Cornelia Smiley, acting non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the 465th Eng. Company
“It’s very enlightening,” said Spc. William Dunsmore, engineer, 465th Eng. Company from Birmingham, Ala. “We don’t get a lot of chances to do this.”
The SWA Huts are open structures 16 feet by 32 ft. which can be used for anything from temporary housing to operations centers, said Dunsmore.
The hut is the main building focus of the 465th Eng. Company, but they have also been building picnic tables and signs for use on Ft. Hunter Liggett.
Building the SWA Huts not only allows the engineering soldiers to practice their skills, it also helps soldiers training to deploy overseas. All the structures being built during Castle IRC are for training Reserve soldiers being deployed.
“The soldier engineers are vital to us,” said Col. James Suriano, post commander, Ft. Hunter Liggett. “They have an opportunity to train here on skills they need for combat and support, and the byproduct of that is that we save money.“
Though most of the soldiers at Castle IRC are trained engineers, some do not have any building experience outside advanced individual training, said Smiley.
The lack of experience isn’t hindering the soldiers. With tools in hand, the engineers took to the project with enthusiasm.
“The mission stated what we were instructed to build, and that’s what we came to do,” said Spc. John White, engineer, 465th Eng. Company White is currently trained as a human resources specialist, but is excited about learning a new trade in this training environment.
“It’s everything I could ask for,” said Smiley, surveying her working soldiers. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but I’ve gotten to know the job and the soldiers well.”
| Date Taken: |
08.07.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
08.11.2011 14:17 |
| Story ID: |
75193 |
| Location: |
FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: |
146 |
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