Photo By Staff Sgt. Marie Bryant | Soldiers from Alpha and Bravo Company, 239th Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB), conduct...... read more read more
Subscribe
Soldiers from Bravo Company, 239th Brigade Engineer Battalion, conducted excavation operations at Fort Chaffee, Ark., June 4, 2025, to prepare a new range for training. These various types of trenches will be used for irrigation, and during personnel and vehicle sized movements in the future.
“This range will give us the chance to train across multiple MOS’s [Military Occupational Specialties] working together toward the same goal,” said 1st Lt. Harrison Shuffield, Bravo Co. platoon leader, “We’re also using this time to get newer equipment operators more experience—especially tasks like digging at night under night vision.”
Shuffield explained that the Horizontal Construction Engineer Military Occupation Specialists are attached as a section within the two combat engineer units of the battalion. Their main job is to build fighting positions and obstacles that support the overall engagement area and enhance mission effectiveness for allied forces.
The team operates bulldozers, excavators, backhoes and tractors to complete the work. They partnered with Technical Engineer Specialists who mark dig sites and check the grade to ensure accuracy.
“Heavy equipment operations is a skill that translates well to civilian jobs. These Soldiers are learning valuable skills they can carry with them long after the uniform comes off,” said Shuffield, further explaining that real-world experience helps the unit operate more effectively during training weekends and annual training.
Many of the noncommissioned officers in the unit also work in construction on the civilian side, which brings valuable expertise to the field.
Shuffield said the opportunity to mentor Soldiers is a big reason he became an officer, “I want to help grow the next generation—not just in the Army, but as better people overall.”
(Arkansas Army National Guard story and photos taken by Staff Sgt. Marie Bryant)
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2025 20:36 |
| Story ID: | 499689 |
| Location: | FORT CHAFFEE, ARKANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | ARKADELPHIA, ARKANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 101 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Arkansas Guardsmen Train in Trench Excavation, by SSG Marie Bryant, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
