Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Proseus | Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Holmes, deputy adjutant general for the Tennessee National Guard,...... read more read more
DARIEN, Illinois – When you gather some of the most influential people of any given association or fellowship, and put them in a building for four days, you will see either huge differences in opinion or a collective effort to improve the overall policies and interactions that organization produces.
In the case of the Engineer Total Army Planning Exercise (ENTAPE) the latter prevailed here at the headquarters of the 416th Theater Engineer Command (TEC). The commander of the 416th, Maj. Gen. Lewis Irwin explains, “It’s really just a special opportunity to bring everybody together, to map out those common objectives, and then to figure out a collaborative way and a collegiate way, how we’ll get from where we are right now to where we want to be.”
Representatives and leaders from all facets of the U.S. Army engineer community came to Darien, and discussed the “way forward” for the rest of 2016, and on into the future of Army engineer capabilities. In attendance were senior leaders from all four components of the Army engineers, which includes the Army Reserve, Army National Guard, the active component of the Army, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
This isn’t the first time one of the two unique Army Reserve TECs held this event. The 412th, from Vicksburg, Miss., and 416th, from Darien – both are sister commands that have about 12,000 Soldiers each – take turns hosting the exercise. This year marks the fourth time such an event has taken place.
“It’s the regiment’s event, and we’re really proud to be a part of it.” Said Irwin. “We’re thrilled when we get the great level of participation from all corners of our regiment. There were people from all over the world here.”
The participants continued to network, plan and coordinate their goals, capabilities and requirements as was done in the past, which accentuates the need for and accomplishments of this exercise. It also allows the engineering community to work towards their goal.
“Everybody has crossed something as their branch insignia. We have a castle. There are many things inside of it. So, they open up the doors and whatever you need will come out, combat, general, geospatial, or whatever else godsend for engineers. They’ll come out, and make it happen,” said Commandant of the U.S. Army School of Engineers Brig. Gen. James Raymer.
What was more important was the representation of all aspects of the Army engineer community. Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, senior commander of the engineer regiment was in attendance to speak on the future of the engineers.
The Army has been involved in counter insurgency operations for the last 15 years, and now needs to shift back to, not so much the way things were before [Iraq and Afghanistan], but to where they need to be.
“There’s a lot of people out there who are going to continue to rattle sabers in the next order of years.” said Semonite, “My message is, are we good at the big fight? If we really get asked what the nation needs us to do, are we proficient or not? And, if not, what are we going to do to get there?”
The leadership of the engineer regiment showed an intensity in their resolve to accomplish the undertaking of being ready when called upon.
“It goes back to what’s important to us. What will never change is the nation’s need for us as a regiment, to step up.” Said Semonite, “We’re all gonna retire. And, on the day of that retirement ceremony, I want you to be sitting there thinking, did I push the envelope as much as I could, to make a difference? That’s what we stand for.”
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2016 08:38 |
| Story ID: | 203991 |
| Location: | DARIEN, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 445 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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