Engineers from the 15th Engineer Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, completed work on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Common Uniform Building Envelope during their Resolute Castle 2018 rotation at Camp Trzebien on May 1st, 2018.
The USACE Center of Standardization for Non-Permanent Facilities conceptualized the CUBE as a hardstand building that can be assembled by forward deployed non-engineer units. The CUBE is a containerized structure designed to be transported to nearly any location and customized into a variety of configurations such as offices or living accommodations.
1st Lt. David Solomon, the officer in charge of the construction management section assigned to the 15th Engineer Battalion, oversaw the project.
“We were thrilled to be the first Army unit to demonstrate this proof of concept for USACE,” said Solomon. “Future iterations of the CUBE could enhance the quality of life for units deployed in combat zones.”
After the vertical construction engineers assembled the CUBE, they disassembled it for non-engineers to assemble.
Staff Sgt. Steven McDaniel, an electronic warfare sergeant, led Soldiers from both Headquarters and Headquarters Company and the Forward Support Company through the assembly of the CUBE.
McDaniel said the non-engineers had little trouble constructing the structure.
“I think it was fairly simple based on the plans provided,” said McDaniel. “Once the foundation is assembled everything falls into place, and that would be ideal for units that don’t have the options for hardstand buildings.”
Although the CUBE was developed by the Center for Nonpermanent Facilities, structures such as the CUBE can last for years, according to USACE. The CUBE is one of several designs the center maintains that has wide applicability. USACE says it could be used for purposes outside of the military such as providing shelter after a natural disaster.
"We were glad this project could meet our training objectives and serve a greater purpose for the future of the military,” said Solomon. “We look forward to engaging in more projects like this."
The CUBE was one of several projects completed by the battalion during Resolute Castle 18. Resolute Castle 18 is the fourth iteration of the joint multinational training exercise for U.S. Army and NATO engineers. The joint training demonstrates the United States’ commitment to NATO allies and partners.