Photo By Capt. Matthew Gilbert | Soldiers from the 913th Engineering Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army...... read more read more
NOVO SELO TRAINING AREA, Bulgaria – Tennessee’s motto is the “Volunteer State.”
For the second year in a row, the men and women of the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 194th Engineer Brigade have earned that title and more. Soldiers from this unit have deployed over 5,000 miles from their families and homes to Novo Selo Training area, Bulgaria to lead Operation Resolute Castle, the NATO and United States led operation designed to improve military infrastructure across Eastern Europe through the countries of Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, and Hungary.
Leading the Tennessee Army National Guard’s construction efforts is the 913th Engineering Company, based in Union City, Tennessee. Soldiers from this unit operated over 25 pieces of heavy construction equipment every day, including bull dozers, excavators, dump trucks, scrapers, and graders to create a tank training range and ammunition holding area.
Construction of this level often stretches pieces of equipment to their limits, requiring special expertise. For example, when scrapers are used to create a level foundation, 194th Engineer Brigade Engineers often team them up with bulldozers to push them, allowing them to carry heavy loads.
One of the equipment operators working on the ammunition holding area was Spc. Justin Duncan. Spc. Duncan is an equipment operator with the 913th Engineer Company, 194th Engineer Brigade Tennessee Army National Guard.
When asked about his experience Spc Duncan replied, “This is a great opportunity to work with NATO forces to improve the training area for us all. The Ammo Holding Area we are constructing will be able to support brigade size elements to draw ammunition and conduct training faster out on the range. Additionally, the Ammo Holding Area will decrease loading times providing more time to execute training. More training equals better execution.”
Large construction projects also require a team to ensure the construction meets quality standards.
Spc. Heather Carris, survey and design specialist with the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard has been in Bulgaria both in 2015 and 2016. Her role is to survey construction progress to ensure the construction stays according to plan.
“It was an incredible experience last year. I was very excited to have the opportunity to come back this year and see the work we completed during Resolute Castle 15. The improvements we are making on the training sites will give us the opportunity to effectively train with our NATO allies,” replies Spc. Carris.
Soldiers like these from the 913th Engineer Company make proud sacrifices every month, and for the past two years have gone above the call of duty to have a global impact. They are proud to be volunteers from the volunteer state.
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.06.2016 06:21 |
| Story ID: | 203160 |
| Location: | NOVO SELO, BG |
| Web Views: | 460 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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