JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – A week into training exercise Castle Installation Related Construction 2016, Army Reserve Soldiers of the 365th Engineer Battalion are on task and are set to finish their projects on schedule.
“We had a few hiccups, but nothing that we couldn't get around,” said Capt. Dustin R. Lahiff, Castle IRC battle captain. The Oreland, Pennsylvania native is with Headquarters Headquarters Company, based in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania.
Staff Sgt. Eric Miller, a 412th Engineer Company squad leader overseeing construction of an archery tower built on already existing telephone poles, talked about how the Scranton, Pennsylvania-based unit had to overcome some challenges.
“The telephone poles were here when we started, and we built off of those,” the Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania native said. “If those aren't plumb and square, then your whole structure won't be plumb and square. So we started off really out of square and just moved on from there. We're almost done laying the decking, and we're pretty much back on track, where we need to be.”
Participating units are working on 18 horizontal and vertical construction projects. Vertical construction focuses on buildings, while horizontal construction deals mainly in roadways.
Units participating in the exercise include 333rd Engineer Company of Reading, Pennsylvania; 603rd Concrete Detachment of Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; 358th Engineer Company of New Cumberland, Pennsylvania; 7223rd Medical Support of Mobile, Alabama; Forward Support Company of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, and the 412th and HHC.
The exercise is halfway done with one more week remaining.