Combat engineers clear way for new developments

Photo By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Hawkins | FORT HOOD, Texas - Spc. Ryan E. Deyo visually inspects the M1271 Mine Clearing Vehicle for transmission leaks during preventative maintenance checks and services before their MIBT mission Monday morning.  

FORT HOOD, TX, TX, UNITED STATES

06.13.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Carolyn Hawkins 

318th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

FORT HOOD, Texas – On a blazing hot Monday morning with temperatures soaring into the mid-90s, the 451st Combat Engineer Platoon from Conroe, Texas conducted mine flail operations as part of the Multi-Echelon Integrated Brigade Training for 2016.
The 451st EN PLT cleared a small area comprised of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines for their mine flail exercise. The Soldiers did dismounted, as well as mounted, reconnaissance. During their mounted reconnaissance, they used their M1271 Mine Clearing Vehicle.
“Our task out here today is we have a mine field we’re going to clear out to make a forward operating base,” said Spc. Francisco Hernandez Jr., a 451st Army Reserve combat engineer from Houston, Texas. “They’re setting a perimeter, making sure it’s clear and that we know where to flail to.”
Hernandez said the process of clearing mines fields starts off when they sweep it first with mine detectors.
“We find a mine, we probe it out, and the mine flail is just a last resort just to make sure everything is clear for sure,” explained Hernandez.
2nd Lt. Charles J. Katalenas from Austin, Texas, with the 451st EN PLT said the Soldiers have done an excellent job in their training during MIBT.
“The 451st has done, in my opinion, just a tremendous job of completing the mission and finding tasks that they need to do, setting up a minefield, then taking it apart in a timely fashion,” said Katalenas. “It’s not an easy job; it’s definitely been pretty hot out here. They’ve spent most of their time on their stomachs, laying down, and pulling out mines by hand.”
The Army Reserve has many military occupational specialties. The combat engineer MOS is known as 12B.
Spc. Ryan E. Deyo, a 451st Army Reserve combat engineer from Pearland, Texas, said he enjoys his career.
“I like having the skill set and knowledge to use explosives,” said Deyo. “It’s pretty fun stuff when we get to go out to the demo range, but in area clearance, specifically, we clear the way for forward progress in making FOBs so people can live safely.”
“There’s a wartime aspect of it,” said Deyo, “and there’s also an application for it helping out other nations in wars and things like that like in Africa where they have mine zones. It can be a dangerous hazard to the local population.”
Hernandez said he also finds the combat engineer MOS exciting.
“You get to blow stuff up all the time. See this piece of equipment right here?” asked Hernandez, pointing to the M1271 MCV. “It’s just glorious. When you drive it, it’s just like your adrenaline starts pumping, like waiting for the mine to set off. It’s just amazing, and working as a 12B is just the best kind of MOS to have.”

• Date Taken: 06.13.2016
• Date Posted: 06.14.2016 15:46
• Story ID: 201116
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, TX, US
• Hometown: AUSTIN, TX, US
• Hometown: CONROE, TX, US
• Hometown: HOUSTON, TX, US
• Hometown: PEARLAND, TX, US