Army divers train salvage ops at Kuwait Naval Base

Courtesy Photo | Spc. Trevin Currey, a diver with the 74th Engineer Diver Detachment, fills a lift bag to lift a sunken project during an annual salvage diver training exercise on Kuwait Naval Base, Oct. 22. The two-week training exercise gave second-class divers the opportunity to progress to salvage divers. The training helped to increase the unit’s overall proficiency to be ready and deploy throughout the U.S. Army Central area of operations. (U.S. Army courtesy photo)  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

10.28.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Jared Crain 

U.S. Army Central   

By Staff Sgt. Jared Crain
USARCENT Public Affairs

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Divers from the 74th Engineer Dive Detachment from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, conducted their annual salvage diver training in the waters of Kuwait Naval Base, Oct. 22.

The two-week training exercise gave second-class divers the opportunity to progress to salvage divers as they trained individually and as a team in evaluated events.

The multi-phase underwater salvage training exercise focused on dewatering, rigging, patching and lift bag operations using scuba and surface-supplied air diving.

“This training exercise is important for the divers. They can advance to the next level, salvage divers, and become more competent and efficient in their mission essential tasks,” said 1st Sgt. Christopher Green, master diving supervisor with the 74th EDD.

Green, went on to explain, that one of the main missions for the detachment is for them to enhance the protection of the force in the U.S. Army Central theater, by conducting security swims in ports to ensure there are no hazards in the waterways, making it safe for vessels to enter.

“We continually work with and support a variety of government and military agencies, such as the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard,” Green added.

“The detachment currently has eight second-class divers who are trying to become salvage divers,” said Green. “The more they’re underwater and the more situations they encounter while underwater will make them a better salvage divers.”

“Being underwater is like being on the moon but with a little resistance,” said

Spc. Eoin Audet, one of the 74th EDD divers working to become a salvage diver.

Army dive detachments are small, elite units that train together and are used to working in teams.

“We are very small group; we put a lot of trust in one another. This allows us to build a tighter bond than most units,” said Green.

“I ’m really comfortable with everyone on my team, were like one big family,” said Audet. “When it comes down to the job, everyone is completely professional, no one is looking out for his or herself, they are looking out for everybody on the team.”

• Date Taken: 10.28.2015
• Date Posted: 10.29.2015 08:37
• Story ID: 180297
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW