FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. – The 372nd Engineer Brigade out of Fort Snelling, Minn., accepted an opportunity to improve the way business is conducted this year for their annual training.
The brigade took command and control of two battalions, the 983rd Engineer Battalion and 315th Engineer Battalion for Castle Installation Related Construction at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.
At the annual training planning conference this year, U.S. Army Reserve Command decided to slate two battalions for the CIRC mission, according to Staff Sgt. Matthew Scudder, 372nd operations non-commissioned officer from Woodbury, Minn.
“Because of that, to de-conflict any problems, they wanted an Engineer Brigade,” he added.
The brigade began work on planning for the exercise in December with their first site visit, according to Scudder.
According to Lt. Col. Anthony Trutanich, exercise and plans, deputy, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, one of the critical learning points to come out of this exercise is the planning process.
“Castle will be back next year, which has taught the installation a lesson – we need to have good projects, ready to go, on the shelf to bring with me for the units.”
For the 372nd, the projects were the main issue with the exercise.
“A lot of speed bumps were the construction projects themselves – who was getting them and what they were going to do,” said Scudder.
While the planning was an issue, the brigade made sure they took care of the battalions under them.
“This year we have been able to ensure construction projects are ready for them,” said Scudder. “They’re not having to arrive and make a plan.”
Not only does the installation now know they need projects ready, they also know the planning needs to be started well before the soldiers hit boots-on-ground.
“We cannot wait until the [Initial Planning Conference] – we have to plan early,” said Trutanich. “[If we don’t] the engineers don’t get to do their jobs, we have to scramble for jobs and the [Bill of Materials] may not come in.”
While the planning needs some work for future CIRC missions, most agree the choice to bring in a brigade was a good decision for the battalions and brigade.
“We are the barrier so the battalions can focus on getting the training they want and that they need,” said Master Sgt. Stephen Almeida, 372nd plans and training non-commissioned officer-in-charge. “If they say they want this kind of training we are there to work it so they can get that training.”
Additionally, the brigade is willing to resolve issues for the battalions so they can focus on their mission.
“Overall [the brigade] made it a better exercise due to the fact that battalions don’t have to go fight for themselves,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ronald Diehl, 372nd maintenance officer. “Brigade will address their needs so the battalion can focus on the mission without pulling assets to try to get their support.”
The brigade allowed the battalions to focus on what they needed for experience.
“Getting the project done is a good thing, but that’s actually not the focus,” said Lt. Col. William Guevremont, 372nd technical engineering officer-in-charge. “For example, the guard tower at [Tactical Training Base] Ward has been built three times because the unit wanted the training. Every squad built the same tower, from the same wood, for training value.”
While this training is important for the unit, the installation still wants a good product, and the brigade is helping ensure this happens.
“[In previous exercises] there was really no one to watch the foxes in the henhouse – no quality control,” said Trutanich. “… By having a [command and control] cell, it puts that connection between the installation commander and the brigade commander.”
The battalions and the installation are benefiting from this relationship and the brigade is even seeing this as a prime opportunity. A few of the brigade staff said they think this exercise is a great integration experience for brigades returning from deployment.
“I think this is a very good exercise for units that are redeploying,” said Hackner. “A lot of times units get back and have a lot of turn-over … This [exercise] gives the new staff a good opportunity to work together in a non-tactical exercise. That’s the biggest take-away.”
The brigade believes this exercise has gone well and hopes others will follow their model.
“I think we have set an example and an outline this exercise needs to follow,” said Diehl. “We have established a working relationship with the installation that will allow this operation to grow and mature. As it does that, it should be able to produce more product and a better exercise in the future.”
With three battalions identified for the exercise next year, a brigade will be in attendance, so the installation and the engineers want to build upon this experience next year and every year after.
“I think that this is the start of a good thing, the start of a good relationship,” said Trutanich. “Engineers will be able to be a part of a great legacy and be able to come back and say, ‘I built that!’”