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    Army Reserve Engineers provide critical support at home and abroad

    Army Reserve Engineers

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jones | Army Reserve engineers provide critical support to the Total Army mission during...... read more read more

    FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, UNITED STATES

    11.30.2015

    Story by Amy Phillips 

    Fort Hunter Liggett Public Affairs Office

    FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. - Army Reserve engineers provide critical support to the Total Army mission during deployments and save the Army thousands of dollars through troop projects at installations like Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL).

    The 80th TASS (Total Army School System) Training Center (80th TTC) at FHL conducts 30 percent of engineer training. According to Maj. Fernando Lavana, the 80th TTC commandant, their training load will increase in the near future with their new school house which is expected to be complete in 2016.

    “TTC FHL provides continual good weather, more open space to drive the vehicles and flexibility of training on the calendar for training [as compared to other TTCs],” said Lavana.

    The Horizontal Construction Engineer (12N) Reclassification Course conducted at FHL is a two-phased course which includes classroom instruction and hands-on training.

    Phase I consists of 12 days of intensive training on how to safely operate and maintain a 10-ton Dump Truck, a 2.5 cubic yard Loader and an Hydraulic Excavator. Phase II is a 14-day class on the Backhoe, Motor Grader, a Wheeled Scraper, and D7R Dozer.

    “At the end of each phase the students are tasked with a 24-hour construction project that will enable them to get a chance to put their new skills in to action while using critical thinking and work as a team,” said Sgt. 1st Class Lance Widner, the Non-commissioned Officer of the 12N course.

    Participants also have to learn about soil types and pass several written exams in order to successfully complete the course and be awarded the new skill identifier.

    Soldiers take a reclassify/obtain a new skill by choice or sometimes when the Army reclassifies a unit. Usually this occurs when service members want to join the Army from other branches of the military or switch positions that might offer better promotion opportunities.

    The 80th TTC is part of the 80th Training Command. The 80th TC provides Command and Control for the Army Reserve TASS which trains Soldiers in more than 50 military occupational specialties. The FHL TTC also hosts military police and civil affairs courses throughout the year.

    Army Reserve engineers also save the Army and tax payer money through troop projects at installations around the country.

    “Projects that engineer troops construct at FHL realize a win, win, win scenario for all involved,” said Lt. Col. David Phillips, Deputy Director of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security.

    “Not only do the engineer Soldiers and units gain essential experience and training, but in doing so, they build and enhance training facilities for other Soldiers to use to when training at FHL.”

    Engineers have supported FHL with sidewalk and road construction projects as well as helipad and facilities construction at the base camps.

    These real-world missions provide Soldiers with hands-on experience that enhances their performance during deployments and provide them tangible skills for civilian employment.

    According to the Army’s Structure & Manpower Allocation System Report dated July 2015, the Army National Guard provides 47 percent of engineers to the Total Army Force. The Army Reserve follows with 36 percent and the active component has 17 percent of the engineers.

    Widner has engineer experience in both the civilian and military sector (24 years in the Federal service and 17 years of active-duty military service) - this is what makes Army Reserve Soldiers so valuable to the overall Army mission.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 11.30.2015
    Date Posted: 11.30.2015 18:37
    Story ID: 183139
    Location: FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US

    Web Views: 512
    Downloads: 2

    PUBLIC DOMAIN