391st engineers partner with Canadian forces at Maple Resolve 14

Photo By Staff Sgt. Derek M. Smith | Soldiers of the 391st Engineer Company out of Boise, Idaho, establish the company’s position for the night during Exercise Maple Resolve 2014 (EX MR14). Approximately 5,000 Canadian, British and U.S. troops participated in EX MR14, conducted here May 5-June 1. It is the culminating collective training event that validates the Canadian Army’s High Readiness Force for operations assigned to it by the Canadian government through the Chief of Defense Staff.  

WAINWRIGHT, AB, CANADA

05.24.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Derek M. Smith 

326th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

GARRISON WAINWRIGHT, Alberta – Army combat engineers serve a variety of roles on the battlefield. The job can be a feast or famine, but for units like the 391st Engineer Company based out of Boise, Idaho, it’s all in a day’s work.

The 391st En. Company is one of several U.S. Army Reserve units taking part in Exercise Maple Resolve 14 (EX MR14) here, May 5 through June 1. Through long days and nights, the engineers tactically moved with the training force’s advance to assist with enemy-emplaced obstacles or landmines. The unit’s ultimate mission resides with its ability to set up defenses once the coalition’s tactical gains were secured.

The 391st engineers worked with their Canadian host partners to integrate lessons learned from real-world experience and individual unit training doctrine with the training exercise scenarios established for EX MR14. Approximately 5,000 Canadian, British and U.S. troops participated in the culminating collective training event that validates the Canadian Army’s High Readiness Force for operations assigned to it by the Canadian government through the Chief of Defense Staff.

“We’ve been pushing forward,” said Spc. Glenn Stimpson, a combat engineer with the 391st En. Company and a St. Anthony, Idaho, native. “Out here, I’ve been in the back of the [M113 Armored Personnel Carrier] to set up a mine field or breach one, depending on what’s required of us.”

The engineers of the 391st expressed satisfaction of conducting operations during EX MR14 for a variety of reasons, ranging from the international partnership to the real-world scenario’s application of their services.

“It’s really rare, especially in the Reserves, to get the chance to work with other nations,” said Spc. Jon Ruthman, a combat engineer with the 391st En. Company. “So far, it’s been a pretty cool experience. Being a reservist, we don’t get a lot of field time like the active duty.”

The exercise’s coalition operations mirrored recent operations around the globe and added a first-time experience for many of the Reservists.

“We get the chance to conduct joint training,” explained Sgt. Mark Owens, combat medic from 321st Engineer Battalion attached to the 391st. “It doesn’t happen that often — at least for us coming out of Boise. It’s our first time training with another country. So, it’s been educational seeing how everyone works together.”

“It helps us have a better rapport and a better understanding of how they operate with their [standard operating procedures],” the Grand View, Idaho, native continued. “We compare what they do that works and what we do that works. It’s great seeing us coming together on common ground.”

• Date Taken: 05.24.2014
• Date Posted: 05.25.2014 14:28
• Story ID: 131051
• Location: WAINWRIGHT, AB, CA
• Hometown: BOISE, ID, US
• Hometown: GRAND VIEW, ID, US
• Hometown: ST. ANTHONY, ID, US