Courtesy Photo | The U.S. Army Engineer Regiment at Fort Leonard Wood often uses the Engineer castle to...... read more read more
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FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. – The annual U.S. Army Engineer Regimental Conference (ENFORCE), will be taking place from April 6-10 at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. The theme for ENFORCE 2011 is "A Timeless Profession." The significance of the conference is to gather lessons learned in support of current operations and to prepare the future force.
Key events include warfighter discussion panels, vendor displays, a book roll-out, and a new memorial wall dedication to honor fallen Engineer warriors.
According to Lt. Col. Timothy O’Brien, deputy assistant commandant for the Army Reserve Engineer School, “The purpose of the conference is ceremonial, it’s camaraderie, it’s also decision making, and it’s emotional.”
O’Brien explained, “In terms of ceremony, the Engineer regiment is rich with tradition that will be integrated throughout the week in the form of events such as an awards luncheon recognizing Engineers who have gone above and beyond the call, a regimental run, and the Engineer ball.
“Enforce is about camaraderie. It provides a forum to network with members of the regiment and fraternal organizations such as the Army Engineer Association, the Society of American Military Engineers, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“Veterans from each of the reunion groups have been invited to participate.
“Soldiers just back from Afghanistan will contribute.
“A delegation of foreign military engineers will attend.
“Engineer students will have a chance to meet those who have served.
“Spouses have planned activities throughout the week.
“Enforce is truly a gathering of the Engineer tribe.”
The key significance of Enforce is decision making. Various groups within the regiment will sit down and discuss some of their major challenges, and then they will brief senior leaders with their recommendations.
O’Brien stated, “One thing about the Engineer regiment is that we listen to our junior leaders.
“Our company commanders who are in the fight--when they return—they are the latest subject matter expert on what’s going on over there, and our senior leaders want to hear what they have to say.
“ I think that’s going to be a great time, and the public can come in and listen.”
Enforce is emotional.
“We’re paying a high price for what we do,” said O’Brien.
This year the Engineer regiment will be unveiling the Engineer memorial which is best described as having a level of dignity that is similar to the Vietnam Wall. The memorial is made of three t-walls engraved with the names of Engineer warfighters who have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last nine years. Several Gold Star families will be on post for a ceremony honoring those Engineers who have fallen within the last year.
O’Brien acknowledged, “This will be a unique memorial as memorials go because normally memorials don’t go up until after a conflict is over, but we’ve been in an extended conflict, so nine years into it we felt like we needed to have a memorial.
“The Army Engineer Association is a big part of making that happen.
“It will be engraved names, sandblasted marble, and it will continue.
“Obviously there are going to be others before this is over.
“That’s unique as far as memorials go.”
The conference brings together expertise spanning all components, combat engineers, geospatial engineers, and general engineers.
For Enforce event information call 573-596-0131, ext. 3-7271.
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2011 17:30 |
| Story ID: | 68175 |
| Location: | FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO, US |
| Web Views: | 503 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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