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FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- Operation Sand Castle 2007 began early in April with Army Reserve engineer units from across the country converging at the premiere U.S. combat training center.
Under the lead of the 412th Engineer Command from Vicksburg, Miss., engineer units are working on construction projects to enhance urban training sites throughout the National Training Center's maneuver areas.
At the direction of Brig. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commanding general of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin. The main effort for this year's first rotation (third year of a ten year project) is called Tiefort City.
Tiefort City is seeing the addition of several concrete masonry units (CMU) simulating dwellings and multiple pre-engineered buildings (PEB) typically used as warehouses. Horizontal construction units are also working to improve the road network throughout the city.
The mission to upgrade and grow Tiefort City towards having 300-500 buildings is a key part of the NTCs goal to provide the most realistic near-combat training possible. Sgt. Maj. Tony A. Knecht of the 412th said, "the engineers get a unique training experience in the fact that one, its a desert environment, the distances involved test their logistics and commo, and they also get the tactical play besides the engineer play doing their technical missions."
This year, Operation Sand Castle units are integrating with an active component, brigade combat team rotation significantly more than previous years. The planning needed for friendly forces operations and countering enemy actions within the engineer battlespace at NTC adds new dimensions to accomplishing their technical mission.
Operation Sand Castle engineer units are conducting unit missions from Forward Operating Base Santa Fe, one of several FOB's that simulate ongoing contingency operations. In addition to the work at Tiefort City, engineer units are making permanent improvements to FOB Santa Fe. These include the creation of entry and exit control points and life support infrastructure improvements.
Several unique engineer units have provided diverse support functions from well drilling to rock crushing quarry operations. These special units provide the flexibility to solve construction common in a desert environment.
Follow on rotations through June are scheduled to expand upon the work completed with the addition of plumbing and electrical service to buildings and the completion of several more CMUs and PEBs. FOB improvements will also be expanded to include a two kilometer berm surrounding FOB Santa Fe.
| Date Taken: | 04.26.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 04.26.2007 18:38 |
| Story ID: | 10140 |
| Location: | FORT IRWIN, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 133 |
| Downloads: | 118 |
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