Wolfpack Engineers Complete Construction Project at Local Training Area

Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Dennis | Pvt. Christopher Henry a horizontal engineer with 643rd Engineer Support Company, 11th Engineering Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade operates a vibratory roller July 30 at Training Area Chaparall for final compaction along the first of three staging pads.  

PYEONGTAEK, 41, SOUTH KOREA

08.01.2018

Courtesy Story

USAG Humphreys

POCHEON, South Korea – During a three-week long platoon mission on Jul 13 to Aug 3, Soldiers from 1st Platoon, 643rd Engineer Support Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade trained on mission essential tasks by providing road improvement Training Area 120, Chaparall, with two access trails and installed three staging-pads.

Units from all over the South Korean Peninsula travel to local training areas every quarter to train and refine their warfighting capabilities. For many, this means conducting combined arms movements, ranges and gunneries.



The mission of U.S. Army Engineers is to enhance the mobility and improve survivability of maneuver units on the battlefield. Horizontal Engineers specifically focus on horizontal surface improvements such as roads, trails, airfields or other flat surfaces. We also specialize in digging fighting positions for Soldiers, vehicles, and other assets for defense. Anti-Tank ditches are one of our specialties for enhancing our counter mobility against the enemy.

For Horizontal Engineers, projects like training area improvement provide an opportunity to train on both construction and project management.
One of the Korean Peninsula’s few U.S. Army horizontal engineer platoons, “Wolfpack” Soldiers departed Camp Humphreys and travel 174 miles, hauling four M120 Motorized Graders, a 966H 5-yard Loader, two D6K Bulldozers and a Vibratory Roller along with the standard vehicles such as the four 10-ton Dump Trucks, Humvee’s, M983 Light Equipment Transporters with trailers through Seoul.

Junior Non-commissioned officers got the opportunity to facilitate the safe movement of equipment, but also providing teaching points throughout the mission.

“Just having the time to be able to teach them the fundamentals of their tasks was some of the most enjoyable parts for me as leader,” said Sgt. Justin McCllellan, a horizontal construction engineer squad leader for 643rd ESC, 11th En. Bn.

The 3-week project utilized a wide array of engineering equipment to achieve the finished product. The 35 Soldiers operated two D6 bulldozers to clear the vegetated areas for the three staging pads, three motorized graders to shape the road, four 10-Ton dump trucks to haul gravel material, A front end loader to load over 5,160 cubic yards of gravel into the trucks to spread across the trails and staging pads and, lastly, a vibratory roller was driven over the final surfaces to achieve the final compaction strength.

The diversity of the equipment and scope of the mission provided the Soldiers with an opportunity to improve their operating skills.

“Each chance you get inside equipment that you’re not yet comfortable with, it gives you an opportunity to improve your skills,” said Pfc. Eric Russell, a horizontal construction engineer with the 643rd ESC, 11th En. Bn.

Soldiers like Russell were constantly rotating in and out of vehicles and completing the mission essential tasks.

“Everyone had their role in the project, and I enjoyed teaching the Soldiers on many tasks and seeing their work improve over time. That’s what it’s all about,” said Sgt. Eulysses Gran, a horizontal construction engineer team leader for 643rd ESC.

The improvement of knowledge and skill will allow the Wolfpack engineers to provide their unique skills to support the maneuver units when called upon to “Fight Tonight.”

• Date Taken: 08.01.2018
• Date Posted: 09.11.2018 19:38
• Story ID: 292318
• Location: PYEONGTAEK, 41, KR