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HEAVY-EQUIPMENT TRAINING<br />
IN TODAY’S HIGH-TECH ENVIRONMENT
Training for the mission,<br />
education for a lifetime<br />
We know training and education are the building<br />
blocks to a bright future. AECOM is honored to<br />
deliver state-of-the-art training facilities that<br />
meet the educational needs of the joint services.<br />
Camp Dawson’s Army National Guard Joint<br />
Interagency Training and Education Center<br />
in West Virginia is just one example of how<br />
we’re working with the U.S. military to lay<br />
the foundation for a brighter tomorrow.<br />
To learn more about how we’re<br />
transforming the future, one brick<br />
at a time, visit aecom.com.<br />
24<br />
contents<br />
volume 24 | number 4<br />
JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong><br />
cover story<br />
24 Heavy-Equipment Training<br />
in Today’s High-Tech<br />
Environment<br />
The 4<strong>16</strong>th Theater Engineer<br />
Command is leading the Army<br />
in 21st-century training practices<br />
with the purchase of heavyequipment<br />
simulators for the<br />
horizontal <strong>engineer</strong> units across<br />
the Army Reserve.<br />
features<br />
12 Biography:<br />
COL (Ret) David T. Theisen<br />
14 Biography:<br />
LTG (Ret) Thomas P. Bostick<br />
<strong>16</strong> Biography:<br />
LTG Todd T. Semonite<br />
29 Memorandum: Soldier Wear<br />
of Essayons Buttons<br />
30 Arming the Combat Engineer<br />
with the Power to Perform<br />
36 A New Perspective for<br />
an Army Engineer<br />
41 South Carolina Army National<br />
Guard Twins Reflect on<br />
Flood Response<br />
departments<br />
3 notes, news, updates<br />
DAVID THEISEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR<br />
5 in other words<br />
BETH O’HARA, EDITOR<br />
6 regimental awards<br />
8 supporting firm members<br />
10 veterans & reunions<br />
19 news & info<br />
© 2013 Ferrell Photographics<br />
30<br />
40<br />
JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 1
ARMY ENGINEER ASSOCIATION<br />
VISIT OUR WEBSITE | <strong>army</strong>.<strong>engineer</strong>.com<br />
NOTES, NEWS, UPDATES<br />
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | xd@<strong>army</strong><strong>engineer</strong>.com<br />
EXECUTIVE OFFICE<br />
Army Engineer Association<br />
P.O. Box 30260<br />
Alexandria, VA 22310-8260<br />
Executive Director<br />
COL DAVE THEISEN, USA (Ret)<br />
703.428.6049<br />
703.428.6043 FAX<br />
xd@<strong>army</strong><strong>engineer</strong>.com<br />
Information & Finance Manager<br />
KIRSTINA COLVIN<br />
703.428.6953<br />
703.428.6043 FAX<br />
finance@<strong>army</strong><strong>engineer</strong>.com<br />
Program Coordinator<br />
LINDA MITCHELL<br />
703.428.7084<br />
703.428.6043 FAX<br />
execasst@<strong>army</strong><strong>engineer</strong>.com<br />
REGIMENTAL OPERATIONS<br />
Army Engineer Association<br />
P.O. Box 634<br />
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473-0634<br />
Director, AEA Regimental Operations<br />
CSM JULIUS B. NUTTER, USA (Ret)<br />
573.329.6678<br />
flw@<strong>army</strong><strong>engineer</strong>.com<br />
Assistant, Regimental Operations<br />
MSG JOE VIGIL, USAR (Ret)<br />
573.329.6678 Voice/FAX<br />
flwadmin@<strong>army</strong><strong>engineer</strong>.com<br />
Regimental Store Manager<br />
CSM GLENN STINES, USA (Ret)<br />
573.329.3203 Voice/FAX<br />
aeastore@<strong>army</strong><strong>engineer</strong>.com<br />
ARMY ENGINEER<br />
Provided under services contract with<br />
Editor<br />
BETH O’HARA<br />
2339 Wismer Avenue<br />
St. Louis, MO 63114<br />
618.979.8061<br />
<strong>army</strong>.<strong>engineer</strong>.magazine@gmail.com<br />
BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ASSOCIATES<br />
President<br />
MG Russell L. Fuhrman, USA (Ret)<br />
Executive Director<br />
COL Dave Theisen, USA (Ret)<br />
Director, FLW Operations<br />
CSM Julius Nutter, USA (Ret)<br />
Serving Board of Directors<br />
COL Carl F. Baswell, USA (Ret)<br />
MG Randal Castro, USA (Ret)<br />
Lloyd C. Caldwell, USACE, SES<br />
COL Harold Chappell, USA (Ret)<br />
John D’Aniello, USACE, SES (Ret)<br />
BG Peter DeLuca, USA (Ret)<br />
CSM Robert M. Dils, USA (Ret)<br />
CW5 John F. Fobish, USAES<br />
COL Edward C. Gibson, USA (Ret)<br />
MG Clair F. Gill, USA (Ret), President<br />
Ex-Officio<br />
MG Robert H. Griffin, USA (Ret)<br />
CW5 Michael A. Harper, USA (Ret)<br />
CSM Bradley J. Houston, USAES<br />
CSM Antonio S. Jones, USACE<br />
MG William A. Navas, USANG (Ret)<br />
LTG Max W. Noah, USA (Ret),<br />
President Ex-Officio<br />
COL Michael C. Presnell, USA (Ret)<br />
COL/SES Geoffrey G. Prosch, SES (Ret)<br />
MG Don T. Riley, USA (Ret)<br />
COL James Rowan, USA (Ret)<br />
LTG Daniel R. Schroeder, USA (Ret)<br />
LTC Richard E. Sharp, USA (Ret)<br />
MG Pat M. Stevens IV, USA (Ret)<br />
LTG Theodore G. Stroup, USA (Ret)<br />
COL Jeffrey A. Wagonhurst, USA (Ret)<br />
COL James A. Wank, USA (Ret)<br />
BG Keith Wedge, USA (Ret)<br />
Frank Weinberg, President Ex-Officio<br />
General Counsel<br />
Robert Nichols, Covington & Burling<br />
Board Emeritus<br />
MG Charles J. Fiala, USA (Ret)<br />
MG Carroll N. LeTellier, USA (Ret)<br />
Regimental Historical Advisor<br />
John C. Lonnquest, USACE Office<br />
of History<br />
Army Engineer Museum Director<br />
Troy Morgan, USAES<br />
Chief of the Corps<br />
LTG Thomas P. Bostick, Chief of Engineers<br />
Chief Warrant Officer of the Regiment<br />
CW5 John F. Fobish, USAES<br />
Sergeant Major of the Regiment<br />
CSM Bradley J. Houston, USAES<br />
Honorary Colonel of the Regiment<br />
MG Randal Castro, USA (Ret)<br />
Honorary Chief Warrant Officer<br />
of the Regiment<br />
CW5 Michael A. Harper, USA (Ret)<br />
Honorary Sergeant Major<br />
of the Regiment<br />
CSM Robert M. Dils, USA (Ret)<br />
MEMBER BENEFITS<br />
The Army Engineer Association (AEA) is<br />
a member–based, nonprofit corporation<br />
specifically organized to facilitate<br />
cohesion, interaction, and networking<br />
within the United States Army Corps<br />
of Engineers’ total family of soldiers,<br />
civilians, family members, and alumni.<br />
As such, AEA serves as both the “Honor<br />
Fraternity” and “Alumni Association”<br />
for the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment.<br />
AEA provides its members with an Army<br />
Engineer Network for Life. Why is this<br />
important? Army Engineers excel at<br />
completing complex and demanding<br />
missions in war and peace, always<br />
performed with uncommon dedication,<br />
ingenuity, and unsurpassed standards of<br />
excellence. All members of this network<br />
are thus inseparably linked for life by their<br />
service.<br />
Benefits include:<br />
1. Affordable rates.<br />
A 12-month regular membership is<br />
only $25, a 24-month regular term<br />
is $45, and a 36-month regular<br />
membership is a $60 value.<br />
There are even lower junior rates for<br />
currently serving soldiers and DA<br />
civilians in the following grades: PVT–<br />
SFC, 2LT–1LT, W1–W2, GS1–GS9.<br />
These lower rates are as follows: 15<br />
months at $15, 27 months at $25,<br />
and 36 months at $35. First-time,<br />
36-month members, and lifetime<br />
members receive a complimentary<br />
Engineer regimental coin.<br />
Lifetime membership for $300<br />
is available with one-time or<br />
consecutive-payment options.<br />
2. Subscription to Army Engineer.<br />
3. Opportunities for professional<br />
development.<br />
4. Participate in award and recognition<br />
programs.<br />
5. Discounts at the Engineer Regimental<br />
Store.<br />
6. Eligibility for the award of academic<br />
scholarships.<br />
Visit www.<strong>army</strong><strong>engineer</strong>.com to join!<br />
IAM HAPPY TO BE THE NEW<br />
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE<br />
ARMY ENGINEER ASSOCIATION.<br />
The last months have moved quickly<br />
as I have come to know many of our<br />
partners. I look forward to serving you<br />
all, and Marguerite and I are looking<br />
forward to getting to know you and to<br />
living in Northern Virginia.<br />
As I reflect on the past, Jack O’Neill<br />
and AEA have always been together;<br />
in fact, Jack is the only AEA director<br />
I’ve known. For more than 18 years<br />
he has been the face of AEA, leading<br />
the charge in supporting the Engineer<br />
Regiment, especially during the post-<br />
9/11 years of almost persistent conflict.<br />
Overseeing a quality magazine during<br />
this time, Jack’s biggest accomplishment<br />
was planning, fundraising, building, and<br />
dedicating the Fallen Sapper Memorial<br />
and Colonial Sapper Statue in the<br />
Sapper Grove at Fort Leonard Wood.<br />
Both of these have become touchstones<br />
and part of the foundation of Engineer<br />
Week at Fort Leonard Wood as we<br />
recognize the sacrifice of the soldiers<br />
and families, update the Fallen Sapper<br />
Memorial, and commemorate the more<br />
than 350 Engineers who have fallen in<br />
the last 13 years in OIF, OEF, OND, and<br />
OFS.<br />
At the Castle Ball on 5 August, LTG<br />
Todd Semonite, Chief of Engineers,<br />
will award the Gold de Fleury to two<br />
deserving leaders in the Engineer<br />
Regiment. The Gold de Fleury is the<br />
highest Regimental award available for<br />
recognition of tremendous service to the<br />
regiment and the Army over a sustained<br />
period of time.<br />
The HON ROBERT K. DAWSON<br />
will be recognized for a long and<br />
distinguished career of leading and<br />
supporting USACE and the nation. He<br />
has served as the Assistant Secretary<br />
of the Army for Civil Works and has<br />
served in the White House Office of<br />
Management and Budget overseeing a<br />
quarter of the annual U.S. budget. He<br />
eventually left public service to start his<br />
own company, Dawson and Associates.<br />
As CEO for Dawson, he has been a<br />
consistent supporter of USACE and its<br />
support role to the nation.<br />
COL (RET) JACK O’NEILL also will<br />
receive the Gold de Fleury. Jack’s<br />
uniformed career began in 1966<br />
when he enlisted in the Army. He was<br />
commissioned in 1967 from the Engineer<br />
OCS and culminated 30 years of service<br />
on the Army staff as the Director, Office<br />
of the Chief of Engineers (Pentagon)<br />
after commanding at every level through<br />
brigade. His career included a combat<br />
tour in Vietnam. After 30 years of<br />
active service, Jack became the second<br />
Executive Director of AEA. He has<br />
guided AEA for the last 18 years and left<br />
an indelible mark on the Regiment, the<br />
Army, and AEA. We are thankful to both<br />
for their service and contributions.<br />
I look forward to seeing you on<br />
5 August at the Castle Ball.<br />
Dave Theisen<br />
2 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 3
BATWING & BOOM<br />
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AG TRACTORS &<br />
IMPLEMENTS<br />
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& GENERATORS<br />
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AG TRACTORS & UTVS<br />
BOOM TRUCKS<br />
OFFICE 813.631.0000<br />
CELL 813.299.2253<br />
FAX 813.631.0008<br />
WWW.FEDERALCONTRACTSCORP.COM<br />
12918 N. NEBRASKA AVE., TAMPA, FL 33612<br />
HEAVY EQUIPMENT<br />
SALES, LEASING, & RENTAL<br />
ARMY ENGINEER<br />
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION<br />
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OR<br />
Call 703.428.6953<br />
OR<br />
Mail a note to:<br />
Army Engineer Association<br />
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Alexandria, VA 22310-8260<br />
NOTICE: Magazines are not forwarded<br />
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2. ORIGINAL ARTICLES<br />
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Article and advertising CLOSE dates:<br />
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JAN/FEB 20<strong>16</strong> 10 NOV 2015<br />
MAR/APR 20<strong>16</strong> 4 JAN 20<strong>16</strong><br />
MAY/JUN 20<strong>16</strong> 1 MAR 20<strong>16</strong><br />
JUL/AUG 20<strong>16</strong> 2 MAY 20<strong>16</strong><br />
SEP/OCT 20<strong>16</strong> 5 JUL 20<strong>16</strong><br />
NOV/DEC 20<strong>16</strong> 1 SEP 20<strong>16</strong><br />
JAN/FEB 2017 2 NOV 20<strong>16</strong><br />
IN OTHER WORDS<br />
FROM THE EDITOR | <strong>army</strong>.<strong>engineer</strong>.magazine@gmail.com<br />
H<br />
ELLO, gentle reader! Let me<br />
offer a rousing welcome to my<br />
new boss, COL Dave Theisen<br />
(pronounced “tyson” like the<br />
chicken or the boxer-turned-tiger)! He<br />
has big plans to change the way we<br />
work and do business, and I am excited<br />
about the new direction in which we are<br />
headed. Take a look at COL Theisen’s<br />
military biography on p. 12.<br />
The anticipated change in my living<br />
situation—gaining an extra room in my<br />
house after my Matthew moves out—<br />
has not yet been realized. He’s contemplating<br />
a move to another state and not<br />
simply to another St. Louis suburb. I will<br />
let you know what he’s doing and where<br />
he’s going when he tells me what he’s<br />
doing and where he’s going!<br />
Please send in your stories; trust me,<br />
the rest of the Regiment wants to know<br />
what great things are happening in your<br />
units!<br />
The “deadline” for the September/<br />
October issue was 5 July; submit<br />
your materials as soon as you can for<br />
inclusion in that fifth issue of the year.<br />
Instructions on preparing photos for<br />
submission (please do NOT include<br />
photos in your Word documents!) and a<br />
list of materials needed for submission<br />
can be found at www.<strong>army</strong><strong>engineer</strong>.<br />
com/editorial_guidelines.htm.<br />
One more word: Please remember<br />
to click on the advertisements on our<br />
website. AEA gets credit (moolah!) for<br />
each click!<br />
NO SURRENDER!<br />
Beth O’Hara, Editor<br />
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS<br />
HARVIE, Ann Marie...............................................................................New England District<br />
OLSON, MAJ Andrew.............................................................................TWI Fellow, Parsons<br />
PRAVATO, SGT Tashera...............................................South Carolina Army National Guard<br />
SHRADER, COL (Ret) “Scotty” R. ..........................................................................4<strong>16</strong>th TEC<br />
TATE, Bernard W......................................................................................................... USACE<br />
TREMBLAY, Jason..................................................................................New England District<br />
ELECTRIC UTILITY<br />
VEHICLES<br />
HIGH-QUALITY<br />
EQUIPMENT TRAILERS<br />
DIRECTIONAL LINE<br />
BORING, TRENCHERS,<br />
CHIPPERS<br />
GSA Contract #s: GS-30F-0008, GS-21F-098AA , GS-07F-202CA<br />
DLA Contract #s: SPE8EC-14-D-0010 and SPE8EC-14-0008<br />
3. RECEIPT OF A MAGAZINE<br />
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Email LINDA MITCHELL at execasst@<br />
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OR<br />
Mail a note to:<br />
Army Engineer Association<br />
P.O. Box 30260<br />
Alexandria, VA 22310-8260<br />
PUBLICATION: Army Engineer is published six times<br />
a year and produced using Mac hardware and Adobe<br />
Creative Cloud (CC) software. It is printed in Rolla,<br />
MO, by Scotts Printing Company and mailed from Fort<br />
Leonard Wood. Main body text and most headlines are<br />
set in Avenir.<br />
ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE<br />
AECOM....................................... c2<br />
Bobcat.........................................28<br />
Caterpillar.............................. 22–23<br />
Dewberry.....................................11<br />
Federal Contracts Corp................. 4<br />
Hippo..........................................13<br />
John Deere.................................... 9<br />
Kipper Tool..................................18<br />
Power to Pass.............................. c3<br />
Trail King......................................40<br />
KEEPING GOVERNMENT PURCHASING SIMPLE<br />
JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 5
REGIMENTAL AWARDS<br />
STEEL<br />
SGT MARK Z. OWENS<br />
SSG ANDREW BLACK<br />
SSG BRENT HOLLAND<br />
SSG JOSHUA A. KING<br />
SSG SCOTT D. HADDIX<br />
SSG CHRISTINA M. BUCKNER<br />
SSG ANDREW L. WHITE<br />
1LT MATTHEW M. CASSABON<br />
CPT JASON M. BULSON<br />
CPT AMANDA ZALESKI<br />
CPT PAUL T. CHARTERS<br />
CPT SCOTT J. SCHREIBER<br />
CPT THOMAS J. MORGAN<br />
ANDREW KEFFER<br />
ANDREA MARCUM<br />
CARON WHALEY<br />
BRETT LYON<br />
MERLE D. YINGLING<br />
ANDREW W. PAYSON<br />
STACEY L. ANDREASEN<br />
WILLIAM D. MORRISON<br />
SEAN McBRIDE<br />
GWENDOLYN MICHAEL<br />
BRONZE<br />
SSG CHRISTOPHER M. KNIGHT<br />
SFC TIMOTHY BONUS<br />
SFC RYAN J. PELTIER<br />
SFC THOMAS WHITE<br />
SFC JAWN P. DOWNING<br />
SFC BEN THOMAS, JR.<br />
SFC LUKE T. PUTNAM<br />
SFC JUAN R. ZAVALA<br />
SFC NATHANIEL O. SAMPSON<br />
SFC MICHAEL M. HUMPHREY<br />
SFC TORY D. ADAMS<br />
SFC JESUS ALEJANDRE<br />
SFC BRADLEY C. WYATT<br />
SFC DEREK L. BANNAMON<br />
SFC DAVID A. PALACIOS<br />
SFC RICK T. LOWARY<br />
SFC WILLIAM H. CAVANAUGH<br />
SFC SHANE R. PAYNE<br />
SFC GEORGE WILLIAMS<br />
SFC JASON R. PIERCY<br />
SFC BRYAN COMSTOCK<br />
SFC JAMES R. WOLF<br />
MSG RUBEN MURILLO<br />
MSG ERIK CANNON<br />
MSG DERRICK BRAUD<br />
MSG MELISSA CANTRELL<br />
MSG JONATHAN R. LUKE<br />
MSG BRIAN H. LOUTH<br />
1SG KEVIN SULLIVAN<br />
1SG JEAUMIQUA S. HARRIS<br />
1SG STANI PAULK<br />
SGM COREY DEIBEL<br />
CSM JEFFREY NARUM<br />
CSM WILLIE S. MITCHELL, JR.<br />
CW3 (RET) ERIC A. CRUZ<br />
CW3 AMOSA J. OLOI<br />
CW4 JASON FESER<br />
CW4 (RET) GILBERT U. RIOS<br />
CW4 TIMOTHY B. EGANS<br />
CPT RYAN M. DUNBAR<br />
CPT MICHAEL L. DAVIS<br />
CPT WILLIAM R. WREN<br />
MAJ VINCENT BONCICH<br />
MAJ SONNY AVICHAL<br />
MAJ COLBY K. KRUG<br />
MAJ JERROD E. MELANDER<br />
MAJ BERNARD V. FAIRCLOTH, III<br />
MAJ DAVID M. JENNINGS<br />
MAJ IANA J. DANIELS<br />
MAJ ROGER ATES<br />
MAJ MATTHEW J. PAINTER<br />
MAJ SETH WACKER<br />
MAJ CHARLES W. WELLS<br />
MAJ KEVIN ARNETT<br />
MAJ BRADLEY T. COMRIE<br />
MAJ MATTHEW R. FORNEY<br />
MAJ KELVIN R. PENNILL<br />
LTC MARK R. HIMES<br />
LTC TERI D. WILLIAMS<br />
LTC RICHARD C. COLLINS<br />
LTC TANEHA N. CARTER<br />
LTC JAMES B. ARNOLD<br />
LTC MICHAEL D. PARSONS<br />
LTC JASON BORG<br />
LTC SILAS R. BOWMAN<br />
LTC HUMBERTO BOPPELL<br />
LTC DENNIS P. SUGRUE<br />
LTC JEREMY A. BARTEL<br />
LTC CHET C. CHILES<br />
LTC CHRISTOPHER T. FABER<br />
LTC DAVID D. HAWKINS<br />
LTC ALAN M. OPRSAL<br />
COL MARK E. GIARDINA<br />
COL (RET) GERALD W. MEYER<br />
COL MARK A. COOK<br />
MANUELA K. WILDRICK<br />
RODNEY BEARD<br />
SCOTT HENDERSON<br />
EDWARD MATTODIA<br />
MICHAEL REDEMANN<br />
JOHNNY BELL<br />
RUSSELL WYCKOFF<br />
WILLIAM K. DUNLAP<br />
CAROLYN RUSSELL<br />
DR. BARBARA A. KLEISS<br />
JOHN W. DANIELE<br />
CHRISTANNE E. HAUGHT<br />
JOHN D. FERGUSON<br />
TERRY D. STRATTON<br />
KEVIN D. WIDNER<br />
KAZUHIRO WATANABE<br />
MARK W. McCOY<br />
SILVER<br />
CSM LAURO F. OBEADA<br />
COL BLACE C. ALBERT<br />
COL JOHN S. HURLEY<br />
COL COURTNEY W. PAUL<br />
COL THOMAS J. TICKNER<br />
COL BERNARD R. LINDSTROM<br />
BG TIMOTHY E. TRAINOR<br />
MG RICHARD L. STEVENS<br />
Y. GIL KIM<br />
OLTON SWANSON<br />
TROY D. COLLINS, P.E., PMP<br />
MARK L. MAZZANTI<br />
GOLD<br />
MG HAROLD J. GREENE<br />
COL J.B. (JACK) O’NEILL<br />
PVT KAITLYN SABATINI<br />
D Co, 35 EN BN 12B10 Class <strong>16</strong>-009/005<br />
PVT ROY A. VARGAS<br />
D Co,<strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12K10 Class <strong>16</strong>-017<br />
PVT JAMES C. HOSKINS<br />
C Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12W10 Class <strong>16</strong>43<br />
PVT SETH A. DEW<br />
D Co, 554 EN BN 12V10 Class 0004<br />
PVT BRANDON K. MCZEAL<br />
D Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12K10 Class <strong>16</strong>-0<strong>16</strong><br />
PV2 RONDELL K. GULLEY<br />
B Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12T10 Class 05-<strong>16</strong><br />
PV2 TIMOTHY P. COLLINS<br />
B Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12R10 Class <strong>16</strong>-<strong>16</strong><br />
PV2 HAI L. NGUYEN<br />
C Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12W10 Class <strong>16</strong>04<br />
PV2 EVAN H. WILSON<br />
A Co, 554 EN BN 12N10 Class 20N<br />
PV2 JOHNGILBERT C. GORALI<br />
B Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12R10 Class 17-<strong>16</strong><br />
PV2 AUSTIN C. FIERRO<br />
D Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12K10 Class <strong>16</strong>-015<br />
PV2 KEVIN M. COUCH<br />
B Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12T10 Class 6<br />
PV2 NICHOLAS GARZA, JR.<br />
D Co, 31 EN BN 12B10 Class <strong>16</strong>-501<br />
PV2 JOHNATHAN K. TRENT<br />
A Co, 554 EN BN 12N10 Class 22N<br />
PV2 JUSTIN A. LOVE<br />
B Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12Y10 Class 006-<strong>16</strong><br />
PV2 ETHAN C. MICEK<br />
B Co, 35 EN BN 12C10 Class <strong>16</strong>-008<br />
PFC SAMUEL BERNAL<br />
C Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12W10 Class <strong>16</strong>44<br />
PFC ALEXANDRIA R. CANTU<br />
C Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12W10 Class <strong>16</strong>39<br />
PFC TIMOTHY W. WRIGHT<br />
D Co, 554 EN BN 21-<strong>16</strong>N Class 21N<br />
SPC JUSTIN W. HUTCHINSON<br />
80 TC, 12W10 Class 002<br />
SPC NICHOLAS W. SILVA<br />
B Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12R10 Class 18-<strong>16</strong><br />
SPC STEPHANIE L. BRADEN<br />
C Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12W10 Class <strong>16</strong>41<br />
SPC SAMANTHA L. WAGNER<br />
C Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN 12W10 Class <strong>16</strong>42<br />
SGT NATHAN J. CUSHMAN<br />
1st BDE (EN), 102 DIV (MS) 12C ALC<br />
Class 001-<strong>16</strong><br />
SGT WILLIAM C. MURRAY<br />
1st BDE (EN), 102 DIV (MS) 12N ALC<br />
Class 003-<strong>16</strong><br />
SGT JOHN A. MELTON<br />
MSCoE, NCOA ALC 12T Class 003-<strong>16</strong><br />
SGT KYLE R. KOETH<br />
MSCoE, NCOA 12N ALC Class 003-<strong>16</strong><br />
SSG JAMES C. BOYETTE<br />
D Co, 31 EN BN Drill Sergeant of Cycle<br />
Class <strong>16</strong>-501<br />
SSG COLEMAN J. TURLEY<br />
B Co, 35 EN BN 12B Drill Sergeant of Cycle<br />
Class <strong>16</strong>-008<br />
SFC BRANDON W. REID<br />
D Co, 35 EN BN Drill Sergeant of Cycle<br />
Class <strong>16</strong>-005<br />
2LT NEIL A. MARTIN<br />
B Co, <strong>16</strong>9 EN BN Sapper Leader Course<br />
Class 007<br />
FRANCES B. MAZZANTI<br />
AMANDA GARTON<br />
PAIGE SNYDER<br />
MELISSA WYATT<br />
JANELLE H. SLOCKBOWER<br />
ERIN K. ZETTERSTROM<br />
SALLY HANNAN<br />
CHRISTY D. CRAMER PRESTON<br />
MARISA DERANEY<br />
CARA J. LINDSTROM<br />
6 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 7
SUPPORTING FIRM MEMBERS<br />
SUPPORTING FIRM MEMBERS<br />
* Members as of 1 June 20<strong>16</strong><br />
ANNUAL *<br />
ADS, Inc.<br />
AES Group, Inc.<br />
Advantus Strategies<br />
Alamo Group (TX), Inc.<br />
Alfred Benesch & Company<br />
Altec Industries<br />
American Material Handling<br />
ARMAG Corporation<br />
A-T Solutions<br />
Black & Veatch Corp<br />
Blue Scope Construction<br />
BMK Consultants<br />
Bobcat Company<br />
Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors<br />
BTS Software Solutions<br />
Calibre<br />
Comanche Nation Construction<br />
Covington & Burling, LLP<br />
Critical Solutions International (CSI)<br />
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC<br />
Dawson & Associates, Inc.<br />
Defense Products Marketing, Inc.<br />
DLR Group<br />
DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.<br />
Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense<br />
Company<br />
Federal Contracts Corp.<br />
Federal Programs Management<br />
FGM Architects, Inc.<br />
Granite Construction Company<br />
Greeley Pond Technologies<br />
Hippo Multipower<br />
Holden Industries<br />
iRobot Corporation<br />
JL Darling, LLC – Rite in the Rain<br />
Johnson Controls, Inc. Government Relations<br />
Jones Lang Lasalle Americas, Inc.<br />
Lockheed Martin Gyrocam Systems<br />
MacDonald-Bedford<br />
Mas Zengrange<br />
MB America, Inc.<br />
Project Time & Cost, LLC<br />
QinetiQ - North America<br />
REHAU Construction, LLC<br />
STV, Inc.<br />
Summit Technology, Inc.<br />
Susquehanna Resources and Environment,<br />
Inc.<br />
TAG – Technology Advancement Group, Inc.<br />
Trail King Industries, Inc.<br />
Transhield, Inc.<br />
Tsay / Ferguson - Williams, LLC<br />
Vali Cooper International, LLC<br />
Vanair<br />
Vectrus<br />
PERMANENT *<br />
AAR Mobility Systems<br />
AECOM<br />
Acrow Bridge<br />
Alliant Techsystems, Inc.<br />
ARCADIS U.S., Inc.<br />
Asset Group, Inc.<br />
Avila Government Services, Inc.<br />
BAE Systems<br />
Battelle Memorial Institute<br />
Bechtel National, Inc.<br />
B.L. Harbert International<br />
BRTRC Technology Research Corporation<br />
Case Construction Equipment<br />
Caterpillar Inc.<br />
CDM Federal Programs Corporation<br />
CH2M Hill, Inc.<br />
Cherry Hill Construction, Inc.<br />
City of Rolla<br />
CM Integrations, LLC<br />
Crawford Consulting Services, Inc.<br />
Deschamps Mat Systems, Inc.<br />
Dewberry<br />
DIRTT Environmental Solutions<br />
Dynamac International, Inc.<br />
Earth Tech, Inc.<br />
Environmental Chemical Corporation<br />
EOIR Technologies, Inc.<br />
EZ Info, Inc.<br />
Faircount, LLC<br />
FAUN Trackway USA, Inc.<br />
First Command Financial Planning<br />
Fluor Daniel, Inc.<br />
Freightliner LLC<br />
Gehrlicher Solar America Corp<br />
General Dynamics Land Systems<br />
Granite Construction<br />
HDR Engineering, Inc.<br />
Horne Engineering Services, Inc.<br />
Huitt–Zollars, Inc.<br />
Ingersoll-Rand Company<br />
Jacobs Engineering Group<br />
John Deere & Company<br />
J.W. Morris, Ltd.<br />
KBR–Kellogg Brown & Root<br />
Kipper Tool Company<br />
Kockums–KKRV, Inc.<br />
Leo A. Daly<br />
Lindbergh & Associates, LLC<br />
Mabey, Inc.<br />
MAN Technologie AG<br />
Michael Baker Corporation<br />
MWH Americas, Inc.<br />
National Security Associates, Inc.<br />
NIITEK, Inc.<br />
NITAR, LLC<br />
Northrop Grumman IT Intelligence Group<br />
(TASC)<br />
Oshkosh Defense<br />
Pangea, Inc.<br />
Parsons<br />
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.<br />
PBS&J<br />
Pearson Engineering<br />
Phantom Products, Inc.<br />
Plexus Scientific Corporation<br />
Polu Kai Services<br />
Pulaski County Tourism Bureau<br />
RMA Land Construction, Inc.<br />
Schiebel Technology, Inc.<br />
Sellers–Sexton, Inc.<br />
Sevenson Environmental Services, Inc.<br />
Society of American Military Engineers<br />
Stronghold Engineering, Inc.<br />
Systems & Electronics, Inc.<br />
Tactical Lighting Solutions<br />
Taylor Engineering, Inc.<br />
TEREX Corporation<br />
Tetra Tech, Inc.<br />
TEXTRON Systems Corporation<br />
The Louis Berger Group, Inc.<br />
The Sandbagger Corporation<br />
The Shaw Group, Inc.<br />
The SKE Group<br />
The SPECTRUM Group<br />
Trimble<br />
Turner Construction Company<br />
United Services Automobile Association<br />
URS Corporation<br />
Versar, Inc.<br />
Volvo Construction Equipment NA, Inc.<br />
WFEL Ltd.<br />
Zodiac of North America, Inc.<br />
SAY HELLO TO THE FRONT LINE.<br />
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To view our complete line of<br />
military equipment, scan this<br />
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JohnDeere.com<br />
8 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong>
VETERANS & REUNIONS<br />
20<strong>16</strong> Reunions<br />
The Vietnam Veterans of the 20th EN<br />
BDE and All Attached Units<br />
24th Annual Reunion<br />
28–31 July<br />
Best Western Hotel and Convention<br />
Center<br />
1125 E. Gore Blvd.<br />
Lawton, OK<br />
POC: Gerald Manint, Reunion<br />
Coordinator • 217.678.8159 •<br />
217.678.8159 • gmanint@mediacombb.<br />
net<br />
46th EN BN<br />
All veterans who served with the 46th<br />
Engineers are invited.<br />
6–11 September<br />
Kansas City, MO<br />
POC: Vern Nelson • 715.886.3290 •<br />
jvnels2@solarus.net<br />
19th Combat EN BN Association<br />
Vietnam and Attached Units Reunion<br />
8–10 September<br />
Baymont Inn<br />
139 Carmel Valley Way<br />
St. Robert, MO<br />
For reservations, call: 573.336.5050;<br />
mention the 19th Engineer Group.<br />
Check out our website for complete<br />
information: http://www.19engrvn.org/<br />
POCs: Tom Ebrite • 765.286.4906 •<br />
s2snoopy@comcast.net or John Hack •<br />
219.947.2363 • silverjon3@yahoo.com<br />
577th EN BN Vietnam Reunion<br />
8–13 September<br />
Branson, MO<br />
Contact Jim Stevens • jrs562@aol.com •<br />
704.363.5358<br />
We also are in search of members of the<br />
577th in Vietnam between June 1966<br />
and December 1972.<br />
Vietnam Veterans of C Co,<br />
<strong>16</strong>9th EN BN / 50th Anniversary<br />
of Deployment<br />
All battalion veterans are welcome!<br />
9–11 September<br />
Franklin Marriott Cool Springs<br />
Franklin, TN<br />
POC: Becky Mallory • 812.686.8211 •<br />
812.686.8138 • rnmallory@<br />
roadrunner.com • https://www.facebook.<br />
com/events/395351307329871/<br />
Veterans of the First Engineer<br />
Combat Battalion<br />
Candlewood Suites<br />
140 Carmel Valley Way<br />
St. Robert, MO<br />
11–14 September<br />
Call 573.336.3355 and advise First<br />
Engineer Combat Battalion Reunion<br />
POC: Ron Labinski • 913.362.6468<br />
• ron.labinski@gmail.com • www.<br />
diehard<strong>engineer</strong>.com<br />
44th EN BN Association [Brokenheart]<br />
Welcome to all alumni from Korea,<br />
Vietnam, Iraq, Fort Carson 44th and<br />
associated units.<br />
14–<strong>16</strong> September<br />
Drury Inn & Suites<br />
4213 Frederick Boulevard<br />
St. Joseph, MO 64506<br />
8<strong>16</strong>.364.4700<br />
www.druryhotels.com<br />
Group confirmation #: 2261899<br />
Room Block Cutoff date: 13 August<br />
Room rate: $95.99 + taxes<br />
Free hot breakfast; 5:30 Kickback ®<br />
Will tour local attractions.<br />
POCs: Ken Jobe • kejo425@aol.com •<br />
757.428.0328 or Rex Hurd • rhurd55<br />
@yahoo.com • 8<strong>16</strong>.688.7470 or Joe<br />
Sopher • Jelesopher@aol.com •<br />
740.465.5015<br />
547th EN BN (CBT) Association<br />
30th Annual Reunion<br />
All 547th (and former attached<br />
companies) veterans, family members,<br />
and friends from 1944 to present are<br />
welcome to attend.<br />
15–18 September<br />
Hampton Inn<br />
103 St. Robert Plaza<br />
St. Robert, MO<br />
573.336.3355<br />
547th rate: $89/night<br />
POC: Dave Tarbox • 703.919.0187 •<br />
1959cessna172@gmail.com<br />
Our activities will include our<br />
memorabilia room layouts, our annual<br />
banquet, a tour of the newly renovated<br />
training areas on Fort Leonard Wood,<br />
and a tour of Route 66 and the many fun<br />
attractions alongside it. Come ready for<br />
lots of camaraderie and good times!<br />
249th EN BN Association<br />
All veterans and their families who<br />
served in the 249th from 1944 to<br />
present are welcome. Meet the<br />
command and staff of the 249th EN BN<br />
(Prime Power).<br />
22–24 September<br />
Fort Belvoir, VA<br />
Lodging, reception, business meeting at<br />
the Hilton Hotel, Springfield, VA.<br />
POC: Robin Wandell • 660.815.1<strong>16</strong>6 •<br />
firewoodfriends@hotmail.com<br />
13th EN BN Association<br />
29 September–1 October<br />
Wintergreen Resort<br />
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965<br />
Contact Association President Billy D.<br />
Quinton Sr. • 727.323.1144 •<br />
bquinton@tampabay.rr.com<br />
http://13th<strong>engineer</strong>bn.homestead.com<br />
864th EN BN (PACEMAKERS)<br />
The reunion is open to all former<br />
PACEMAKERS, members of attached<br />
units, spouses, and friends of all eras.<br />
12–<strong>16</strong> October<br />
Norfolk, VA<br />
For more information, contact Ralph<br />
Willing • 860.977.9937 • willingrvw@<br />
gmail.com<br />
11th EN BN Association<br />
“JUNGLE CATS” Reunion<br />
All Jungle Cat veterans, family members,<br />
and friends of the Association are<br />
cordially invited to attend.<br />
13–17 October<br />
Hyatt Place Hotel, Chesapeake, VA<br />
$99/night including breakfast for two<br />
POC: For more info and a registration<br />
form, please visit our website at<br />
www.11th<strong>engineer</strong>battalion.com or<br />
contact either Joe Papapietro • o6ret@<br />
aol.com • 717.818.7331 or Mike<br />
Ellegood • msellegood@me.com •<br />
602.690.1428<br />
Oakwood Beach Flood Attenuation Feasibility Study and Design<br />
Committed to delivering resilience<br />
solutions that strengthen communities<br />
and positively impact the quality of life<br />
Michael Walsh<br />
703.698.9080 • mwalsh@dewberry.com<br />
Submit your reunion notice to BETH O’HARA at <strong>army</strong>.<strong>engineer</strong>.magazine@gmail.com.<br />
Your notice also will appear on our website.<br />
www.dewberry.com<br />
10 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 11
BIOGRAPHY<br />
COL (RET) DAVID T. THEISEN<br />
INCOMING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AEA<br />
COL THEISEN retired in<br />
December 2015 as the<br />
Assistant Commandant of the<br />
U.S. Army Engineer School<br />
at Fort Leonard Wood, MO,<br />
after 31 years of service. He<br />
enlisted in the Army in 1984<br />
and was commissioned in<br />
1985 through OCS at Fort<br />
Benning, GA.<br />
His previous assignments<br />
include Commander, 1st<br />
Maneuver Enhancement<br />
Brigade (MEB), Fort Polk,<br />
LA; Director of the Counter<br />
Explosive Hazard Center<br />
(CEHC); Commandant, U.S.<br />
Army Mine Dog School and<br />
TRADOC Co-Lead for the<br />
IEDD ICDT at Fort Leonard<br />
Wood; and Commander, 1st<br />
EN BN, 1st INF DIV.<br />
Other previous units<br />
include <strong>16</strong>th EN BN, 293rd<br />
ECB (Hvy), 40th EN BN, 1st<br />
EN BN, 35 ENGR REGT (1st<br />
ARMD DIV, UK), Kansas City<br />
District COE, OPS GRP “C“<br />
BCTP, and 937th EN GRP.<br />
His previous operational<br />
tours include SFOR, KFOR,<br />
and three tours in Operation<br />
Iraqi Freedom with 1st ARMD<br />
DIV (UK), 937th EN GRP, and<br />
1st EN BN.<br />
Theisen is a graduate<br />
of the Engineer Officer<br />
Basic Course, Junior Officer<br />
Maintainence Course,<br />
Engineer Officers Advanced<br />
Course, Combined Arms<br />
Services and Staff School,<br />
Command and General Staff<br />
College, and the U.S. Army<br />
War College (USAWC).<br />
Theisen’s awards and<br />
decorations include the<br />
Legion of Merit (two<br />
OLC), Bronze Star Medal<br />
(OLC), Presidential Unit<br />
Citation, Joint Meritorious<br />
Unit Award, Valorous Unit<br />
Award, Meritorious Unit<br />
Commendation, Iraqi<br />
Campaign Medal (two<br />
Campaign stars), the<br />
Global War on Terrorism<br />
Expeditionary Medal, the<br />
Global War on Terrorism<br />
Service Medal, and the<br />
Combat Action Badge.<br />
He holds a bachelor of<br />
science degree in petroleum<br />
<strong>engineer</strong>ing from University<br />
of Missouri–Rolla, a master’s<br />
in civil <strong>engineer</strong>ing from<br />
the University of Missouri,<br />
Columbia, and a master’s in<br />
national security policy from<br />
USAWC.<br />
ANSWERING THE CALL of duty<br />
When the call comes in, Army Engineers immediately respond no matter how remote the<br />
battlefield, disaster or construction location. The need for reliable and versatile power to<br />
run heavy-duty equipment is critical to their mission success.<br />
HIPPO Multipower units are proven under fire, passing extensive testing at the Aberdeen<br />
Proving Ground as well as in-field action with the 911 th and 4<strong>16</strong> th combat <strong>engineer</strong> battalions of<br />
the US Army Reserves. With hundreds of units deployed by the US military around the world,<br />
HIPPO has been selected by the Department of Defense as the most dependable<br />
mobile multipower unit available. We’re always ready to answer the call of duty.<br />
HYDRAULIC<br />
AIR ELECTRIC WELDING<br />
12 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong><br />
HIPPO 2032E Power Unit available as NSN 6115-01-585-4339.<br />
HippoMultipower.com/military
BIOGRAPHY<br />
by BERNARD W TATE (USACE)<br />
LTG (RET) THOMAS P. BOSTICK<br />
OUTGOING CHIEF OF ENGINEERS<br />
LTG THOMAS P. BOSTICK<br />
relinquished command as<br />
the 53rd U.S. Army Chief of<br />
Engineers and Commanding<br />
General of the U.S. Army<br />
Corps of Engineers (USACE)<br />
on 19 May 20<strong>16</strong> in a changeof-command<br />
and retirement<br />
ceremony at Joint Base Myer-<br />
Henderson Hall (JBMHH), VA.<br />
He had served as the Chief of<br />
Engineers since 22 May 2012<br />
and retired with 38 years of<br />
service in the U.S. Army.<br />
LTG Todd T. Semonite<br />
became the 54th Chief of<br />
Engineers and assumed command<br />
of USACE during the<br />
same ceremony.<br />
As the USACE commanding<br />
general, Bostick served<br />
as the senior military officer<br />
overseeing most of the nation’s<br />
civil works infrastructure<br />
and military construction.<br />
He was responsible for more<br />
than 32,000 civilian employees<br />
and 700 military personnel<br />
who provide project<br />
management, construction<br />
support, and <strong>engineer</strong>ing<br />
expertise in more than 110<br />
countries around the world.<br />
USACE has a key role in<br />
supporting overseas contingency<br />
operations, with<br />
thousands of civilians and<br />
soldiers having deployed to<br />
support military operations<br />
and reconstruction in Iraq<br />
and Afghanistan.<br />
“USACE is composed of<br />
extremely loyal and competent<br />
civil servants. I am<br />
consistently impressed by our<br />
personnel at the locks and<br />
dams, and our park rangers,<br />
program and project managers,<br />
attorneys, scientists, and,<br />
of course, our <strong>engineer</strong>s,”<br />
Bostick said. “I have seen the<br />
completion of vital civil works<br />
projects thanks to collaborations<br />
among USACE employees;<br />
contractors; federal,<br />
state, and local agencies;<br />
non-profit organizations; and<br />
private citizens.<br />
“Take Superstorm Sandy,<br />
for example, which killed at<br />
least 117 people, caused<br />
more than $50 billion in damage,<br />
and stranded millions<br />
of people for days without<br />
water, fuel, and electricity.<br />
USACE quickly mobilized<br />
more than 800 personnel to<br />
help with relief and recovery<br />
operations. In just nine<br />
days, we removed 85 million<br />
gallons of water—enough<br />
to fill the Rose Bowl—from<br />
the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel,<br />
the longest vehicular tunnel<br />
in North America. We could<br />
not have accomplished that<br />
mission without the help of<br />
two other great teammates,<br />
the U.S. Coast Guard and the<br />
U.S. Navy.”<br />
Bostick also was responsible<br />
for USACE’s diverse<br />
missions such as the operation<br />
and maintenance of the<br />
nation’s inland waterways and<br />
coastal ports and harbors; the<br />
nation’s largest hydropower<br />
and federal recreation programs;<br />
environmental protection<br />
and restoration projects;<br />
the regulatory permit program<br />
to protect, restore, and<br />
enhance thousands of acres<br />
of wetlands; and emergency<br />
response missions to support<br />
the Federal Emergency<br />
Management Agency in the<br />
aftermath of natural or manmade<br />
disasters.<br />
As the Chief of Engineers,<br />
Bostick advised the Army<br />
on <strong>engineer</strong>ing matters and<br />
served as the Army’s topographer<br />
and the proponent<br />
for real estate and other related<br />
<strong>engineer</strong>ing programs.<br />
During his tenure, Bostick<br />
strengthened ties between<br />
USACE and the Army and<br />
Combatant Commands and<br />
also expanded opportunities<br />
with the Department of Veterans<br />
Affairs and the Department<br />
of Energy. USACE has<br />
started a $5 billion program<br />
to build hospitals for the DVA<br />
for the first time since the<br />
post–World War II era.<br />
Before commanding<br />
USACE, Bostick served as the<br />
Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff,<br />
G-1, Personnel, responsible<br />
for developing, managing,<br />
and executing manpower<br />
and personnel plans, programs,<br />
and policies for more<br />
than 1 million soldiers and<br />
300,000 Army civilians.<br />
Other command and staff<br />
positions that Bostick held<br />
during his 38 years of service<br />
include Commanding General,<br />
U.S. Army Recruiting<br />
Command; Director of Military<br />
Programs in USACE with<br />
duty as Commander of the<br />
Gulf Region Division in Iraq;<br />
Assistant Division Commander<br />
(Maneuver), later Assistant<br />
Division Commander (Support),<br />
1st CAV DIV during the<br />
deployment into Operation<br />
Iraqi Freedom; Commander,<br />
Engineer Brigade, 1st AR<br />
DIV, Operation Joint Forge<br />
in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and<br />
1<br />
Commander, 1st EN BN, 1st<br />
INF DIV (Mechanized).<br />
Bostick also served as<br />
Executive Officer to the<br />
Chief of Engineers, Executive<br />
Officer to the Army Chief of<br />
Staff, and Deputy Director of<br />
Operations for the National<br />
Military Command Center,<br />
J-3, the Joint Staff in the<br />
Pentagon from May 2001<br />
to August 2002, including<br />
the events of 11 September<br />
2001.<br />
Bostick also was an assistant<br />
professor of mechanical<br />
<strong>engineer</strong>ing at West Point<br />
and was a White House<br />
Fellow, serving as a special<br />
assistant to the Secretary of<br />
Veterans Affairs.<br />
Bostick graduated from<br />
the U.S. Military Academy<br />
at West Point in 1978 with a<br />
bachelor of science degree.<br />
He holds a master’s degree<br />
in both civil <strong>engineer</strong>ing and<br />
mechanical <strong>engineer</strong>ing from<br />
Stanford University and is a<br />
graduate of the U.S. Army<br />
War College.<br />
He is a registered<br />
professional <strong>engineer</strong> in<br />
Virginia. Bostick and his<br />
wife Renee will reside in<br />
Arlington, VA.<br />
1<br />
1 LTG Thomas P. Bostick retired<br />
on 19 May as the 53rd Chief of<br />
Engineers and Commanding<br />
General of the U.S. Army Corps<br />
of Engineers. He had 38 years<br />
of service and was honored with<br />
an Armed Forces Full Honors<br />
retirement ceremony. GEN Mark<br />
Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army,<br />
presided. PHOTO BY MICHAEL<br />
P. WHETSTON, USACE PUBLIC AFFAIRS<br />
14 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 15
BIOGRAPHY<br />
LTG TODD T. SEMONITE<br />
COMMANDING GENERAL AND CHIEF OF ENGINEERS<br />
LTG TODD T. SEMONITE<br />
assumed command as the<br />
54th Chief of Engineers and<br />
Commanding General of the<br />
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers<br />
(USACE) in a changeof-command<br />
ceremony at<br />
Joint Base Myer-Henderson<br />
Hall (JBMHH), VA, on 19 May.<br />
The previous commanding<br />
general of USACE was LTG<br />
Thomas P. Bostick.<br />
Semonite also was<br />
promoted to the rank of<br />
lieutenant general that day<br />
in a ceremony preceding the<br />
change-of-command.<br />
“I’m excited to assume<br />
the role of the Chief of Engineers<br />
and the command of<br />
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,”<br />
Semonite said during<br />
the change of command<br />
ceremony. “I am convinced,<br />
though, that the power and<br />
the value of USACE is not in<br />
the facilities and the waterways<br />
we build and maintain.<br />
It is not measured by concrete<br />
and steel, nor by miles<br />
of combat routes cleared. It<br />
is measured by the passion<br />
in the hearts of our <strong>engineer</strong><br />
force. Our people are truly<br />
the most important component<br />
of the command.<br />
“Our commitment is to<br />
be ready to solve the nation’s<br />
most complex <strong>engineer</strong>ing<br />
challenges, to improve our<br />
readiness to be Army Strong,<br />
and to expand our technical<br />
capability to be Building<br />
Strong.”<br />
As the Chief of Engineers,<br />
Semonite advises the<br />
U.S. Army on <strong>engineer</strong>ing<br />
matters and serves as the<br />
Army’s topographer and the<br />
proponent for real estate and<br />
other <strong>engineer</strong>ing programs.<br />
As the USACE commanding<br />
general, he is responsible for<br />
more than 32,000 civilian employees<br />
and 700 military personnel<br />
who provide project<br />
management, construction<br />
support, and <strong>engineer</strong>ing<br />
expertise in more than 110<br />
countries around the world.<br />
USACE is America’s<br />
premier <strong>engineer</strong>ing agency.<br />
It managed an Army military<br />
construction program<br />
between 2006 and 2013<br />
totaling $44.6 billion, the<br />
largest construction effort<br />
since World War II. It operates<br />
and maintains more than<br />
12,000 miles of commercial<br />
inland navigation channels,<br />
and dredges more than 200<br />
million cubic yards of material<br />
annually to maintain 926<br />
coastal, Great Lakes, and<br />
inland harbors.<br />
USACE is the nation’s<br />
environmental <strong>engineer</strong><br />
and restores or creates tens<br />
of thousands of acres of<br />
wetlands annually under their<br />
Regulatory Program. USACE<br />
owns more than 700 dams,<br />
and operates 24 percent of<br />
the U.S. hydropower capacity.<br />
As part of that, USACE is<br />
also the nation’s number-one<br />
federal provider of outdoor<br />
recreation, hosting 370<br />
million visits annually at its<br />
recreation areas.<br />
BEFORE THIS ASSIGNMENT,<br />
LTG Semonite established<br />
the Army Talent Management<br />
Task Force and served as<br />
its first director. In this role,<br />
Semonite was responsible for<br />
reforming the way the Army<br />
acquires, develops, employs,<br />
and retains a talented<br />
workforce. Prior to these<br />
duties, LTG Semonite was<br />
the Commanding General for<br />
Combined Security Transition<br />
Command–Afghanistan,<br />
responsible for the building<br />
of the Afghan Army and<br />
Police through management<br />
of a $13 billion budget to<br />
support a 352,000 individual<br />
force.<br />
During his tenure,<br />
the mission focused on<br />
sustainment of that force<br />
and training, advising,<br />
and assisting the Security<br />
Ministries toward establishing<br />
an enduring culture of fiscal<br />
discipline, transparency,<br />
and accountability, while<br />
continuing to fight and win<br />
against a significant enemy<br />
threat.<br />
Previous to that command,<br />
LTG Semonite served<br />
as the Deputy Chief of<br />
Engineers and the Deputy<br />
Commanding General,<br />
USACE. LTG Semonite also<br />
has served as Commanding<br />
General, South Atlantic<br />
Division, responsible for<br />
the oversight of planning,<br />
design, and construction<br />
projects to support the U.S.<br />
military, protect America’s<br />
water resources, and provide<br />
USACE support to U.S.<br />
Southern Command. The<br />
South Atlantic Division<br />
provides <strong>engineer</strong>ing and<br />
construction services from<br />
Alabama to North Carolina,<br />
the Caribbean and Central<br />
and South America.<br />
Prior to assuming Command<br />
of the South Atlantic<br />
Division, LTG Semonite<br />
commanded USACE’s North<br />
Atlantic Division in New York<br />
City, serving the states from<br />
Virginia to Maine as well as<br />
the U.S. European Command<br />
and U.S. Africa Command<br />
Areas of Responsibility. He<br />
also served as Commanding<br />
General, Maneuver Support<br />
Center and Fort Leonard<br />
Wood, and as assistant commandant,<br />
U.S. Army Engineer<br />
School at Fort Leonard<br />
Wood, MO.<br />
Additionally, he served in<br />
a wide variety of command<br />
and staff positions including:<br />
Director, Office of the Chief<br />
of Engineers, Headquarters,<br />
Department of the Army at<br />
the Pentagon; Deputy Commander,<br />
Task Force Restore<br />
Iraqi Electricity; and Executive<br />
Officer to the commanding<br />
general, U.S. Army Europe<br />
(USAEUR) and 7th Army.<br />
LTG Semonite served as<br />
Commander of the 130th<br />
Engineer and the V Corps<br />
Engineer, Hanau, Germany;<br />
Chief of Military Operations<br />
and Topography and Chief<br />
of International Operations,<br />
both with USAEUR; Battalion<br />
Commander, 23rd EN BN, 1st<br />
Armored Division, Friedberg,<br />
Germany (with a one-year<br />
deployment to Bosnia);<br />
Construction and Design<br />
Supervisor, 4<strong>16</strong>th Engineer<br />
Command, Chicago, IL; Staff<br />
Officer for Logistics (S-4),<br />
937th Engineer Group and<br />
Staff Officer for Operations<br />
(S-3) and Executive Officer,<br />
1st Engineer Battalion, both<br />
at Fort Riley, KS; and Operations<br />
Officer, U.S. Army<br />
Corps of Engineers Office,<br />
Fort Drum, NY.<br />
Semonite, a native of Bellows<br />
Falls, VT, is a registered<br />
professional <strong>engineer</strong> in<br />
Virginia and Vermont.<br />
He graduated from<br />
the U.S. Military Academy<br />
(USMA), West Point, NY, and<br />
was commissioned into the<br />
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers<br />
in 1979. He holds a<br />
bachelor of science degree in<br />
civil <strong>engineer</strong>ing from USMA,<br />
a master of science in civil<br />
<strong>engineer</strong>ing degree from the<br />
University of Vermont, and<br />
a master of military arts and<br />
sciences from Fort Leavenworth,<br />
KS.<br />
He is a graduate of the<br />
Engineer Officer Basic and<br />
Advanced Courses, the Combined<br />
Arms Services Staff<br />
School, the Command and<br />
General Staff College, and<br />
the Army War College.<br />
Semonite’s awards include<br />
the Distinguished Service<br />
Medal (two awards), Defense<br />
Superior Service Award,<br />
Legion of Merit (five awards),<br />
Bronze Star, Meritorious<br />
Service Medal (seven<br />
awards), Army Commendation<br />
Medal (three awards),<br />
Army Achievement Medal,<br />
Joint Meritorious Unit Award,<br />
Meritorious Unit Citation,<br />
Army Superior Unit Award<br />
(two awards), NATO award,<br />
Ranger tab, and Parachutist<br />
Badge.<br />
<strong>16</strong> t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 17
NEWS & INFO<br />
Take-Your-D<strong>aug</strong>hters-and-Sons-to-Work STEM event a hit<br />
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by<br />
ANN MARIE R. HARVIE<br />
USACE, NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT<br />
CONSTRUCTING BRIDGES WITH<br />
spaghetti and marshmallows? Making<br />
bird feeders out of pine cones? Performing<br />
archaeological digs using cookies?<br />
Not a typical day at the New England<br />
District headquarters, but it is a typically<br />
fun and educational agenda for the<br />
annual Take-Your-D<strong>aug</strong>hters-and-Sonsto-Work<br />
event. On 22 April, 26 children<br />
enjoyed a day of discovery with handson<br />
activities focused on Science, Technology,<br />
Engineering, and Math (STEM).<br />
Jackie DiDomenico, Equal Employment<br />
Opportunity Office, and Denise<br />
Kammerer-Cody, Federal Women’s<br />
Program Manager, sponsored the event.<br />
DiDomenico was on hand to answer<br />
questions and assist with the children.<br />
CPT Daniel Brady, Project Engineer,<br />
Construction Division, greeted the potential<br />
future <strong>engineer</strong>s and scientists.<br />
A fun and unique ice breaker helped<br />
the children introduce themselves and<br />
get to know a bit about each other<br />
before splitting into three groups. Every<br />
year the Federal Women’s Program and<br />
the Equal Employment Opportunity Office<br />
come up with fun team names. This<br />
year the kids were broken up into candy<br />
bar teams: Snickers, Baby Ruth, and<br />
Reese’s. Each group rotated between<br />
three 45-minute sessions in the morning<br />
and another three 45-minute sessions in<br />
the afternoon.<br />
In the morning Penny Reddy and<br />
CPT Brady hosted the spaghetti bridge<br />
activity in the New England Conference<br />
Room. The activity started off with a<br />
presentation that included videos and<br />
photos of many types of bridges. After<br />
viewing the presentation material, the<br />
children designed and constructed a<br />
bridge out of uncooked spaghetti and<br />
marshmallows.<br />
Paul Young and Jessica Rudd held a<br />
geology presentation in the cafeteria.<br />
“We are surrounded by rocks, minerals,<br />
and fossils,” said Young. During the<br />
presentation, the children learned how<br />
such minerals formed. The children got<br />
the chance to hold samples of different<br />
types of minerals to include gold, silver,<br />
copper, and diamonds. They also were<br />
able to handle fossils such as clams,<br />
whalebone, wood, dinosaur, and footprints<br />
and much more. Most of the items<br />
the children got to handle were found<br />
in New England. “The geology was my<br />
favorite,” said Tristan. “The rocks are<br />
rare and the fossils too. They were very<br />
cool.” Drake agreed with Tristan. “There<br />
were tons of really cool ones,” he said.<br />
Jessica Schanz took a green approach<br />
to teaching the children how to love and<br />
appreciate their planet in the Massachusetts/Connecticut<br />
Conference Rooms.<br />
During the session titled, “Earth Day,”<br />
the children learned about environmental<br />
changes and why it’s important to<br />
protect the earth and recycle. After a<br />
brief presentation, the children made<br />
pine cone bird feeders that they could<br />
take home and hang to feed the birds<br />
in their yards. “My favorite activity was<br />
making the bird feeders,” said Amelie.<br />
“I’ve never made one, and I like to do<br />
things that I’ve never done before.”<br />
After meeting their sponsors for a<br />
pizza lunch, the children headed into the<br />
afternoon activities.<br />
Marc Paiva took the children on an<br />
Archaeological Cookie Dig in the Cafeteria.<br />
“This is a simple and fun exercise to<br />
try with the kids,” said Paiva. “It simulates<br />
the delicate work of an archaeologist,<br />
and is likely to stir an interest in<br />
archaeology and fossils.”<br />
Christine Renzoni and Kevin Kotelly<br />
hosted an endangered species presentation.<br />
During this activity, the children<br />
learned how human activities can<br />
change a sea turtle’s and other endangers<br />
species’ environment. “This one<br />
was my favorite,” explained Anna. “You<br />
got to run around and play the sensory<br />
game.”<br />
Park Ranger Ronald Woodall gave a<br />
para-cord survival Key Fob presentation.<br />
Using a 550-foot para-cord that was created<br />
by Army scientists during WWII for<br />
parachutes, the children learned about<br />
the multiples uses of the cord. After the<br />
presentation, the children made their<br />
own survival key fobs. “This looked really<br />
interesting,” said Luc of his favorite<br />
activity. “I really wanted to do it.”<br />
District team members who assisted<br />
the main presenters were Tina Chaisson,<br />
Ann Marie Harvie, Valerie Cappola,<br />
Karen Baumert, and Grace Moses.<br />
Penny Reddy (right) assists Olivia with her spaghetti and marshmallow<br />
tower. PHOTO COURTESY U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT<br />
18 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY 800-295-9595 / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> | govsales@kippertool.com | Kippertool.com<br />
JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 19
NEWS & INFO<br />
District and partners move forward with<br />
turtle-nesting habitat enhancement project<br />
by<br />
JASON TREMBLAY<br />
PROJECT MANAGER<br />
EDWARD MacDOWELL LAKE<br />
NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT<br />
THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS<br />
at Edward MacDowell Lake in Peterborough,<br />
NH, has been working with<br />
state and local partners since September<br />
2013 on a turtle-nesting habitat<br />
project that will greatly benefit turtles<br />
and upland species. With the help and<br />
expertise of New Hampshire Fish and<br />
Game Department’s Wildlife Division<br />
and a collaboration of biologists, foresters,<br />
and soil scientists, a Wildlife Habitat<br />
Prescription Plan was developed for<br />
this project. Local partners such as the<br />
Monadnock Trail Breakers Snowmobile<br />
Club, Cub Scout Pack 8, Boy Scout<br />
Troop 308, and Venture Crew 308 will<br />
help to execute the final stages of the<br />
project which involves preparing the site<br />
for plantings and securing the nesting<br />
area.<br />
The project involves reclaiming an<br />
existing 3.5 acres of gravel pit in order<br />
to enhance critical turtle-nesting habitat.<br />
The primary goal of the project is to<br />
provide a suitable nesting area at the<br />
gravel pit, thereby increasing turtlenesting<br />
rates and decreasing turtle<br />
mortality. The habitat prescription plan,<br />
developed by the New Hampshire Fish<br />
& Game Department, targets a variety<br />
of turtle species, including three species<br />
of turtles that are currently listed as<br />
Species of Concern in the state of New<br />
Hampshire.<br />
Edward MacDowell Lake currently<br />
supports nesting turtles at the gravel<br />
pit, located adjacent to the lake and a<br />
wetland area, and is the primary area<br />
for nest sites at the park, as identified<br />
by the New Hampshire Natural Heritage<br />
Inventory in 2000. Over time, natural<br />
succession of trees and shrubs and their<br />
associated cover has reduced the overall<br />
size of suitable nesting habitat. The<br />
project would open the canopy to help<br />
the sun heat the area for turtle egg incubation.<br />
All New Hampshire freshwater<br />
turtle species require an open canopy<br />
with well-drained soils and sparse<br />
vegetation consisting of native sedges,<br />
grasses, and less than 2- to 5-percent<br />
low-growing shrub cover for nesting.<br />
The New Hampshire Fish and Game<br />
Department’s Wildlife Division’s habitat<br />
prescription plan also will benefit upland<br />
wildlife species such as smooth green<br />
snakes, grouse, turkey, and a number of<br />
songbirds.<br />
This project will be the first for turtlenesting<br />
habitat under the Handshake<br />
Partnership Program since the program’s<br />
inception in 2004. The application for<br />
this Handshake Partnership project went<br />
before a national committee and was<br />
awarded on 19 November 2014.<br />
By 3 August 2015, the Challenge<br />
Partnership Agreement for Edward<br />
MacDowell Lake’s Turtle Habitat Restoration<br />
Project was officially signed<br />
by New Hampshire Fish and Game<br />
Department’s Executive Director Glenn<br />
Normandeau; Monadnock Trail Breaker’s<br />
President Chris Raymond; Cub Scouts<br />
of America Pack 8 Cubmaster Jeffrey<br />
King; Boy Scouts of America Troop 308<br />
Scoutmaster Michael Miller; and Venture<br />
Crew Adviser Arianne Miller. Through<br />
a memorandum of delegation from<br />
COL Christopher Barron, New England<br />
District Commander, Operations Chief<br />
Frank Fedele provided the final signature.<br />
The projected increase in turtle<br />
populations as a result of this project will<br />
provide the general public with more<br />
opportunities for wildlife observation<br />
and photography at Edward MacDowell<br />
Lake and naturalist-led interpretive programs<br />
to demonstrate habitat enhancements.<br />
1<br />
MANY THANKS FOR<br />
THE SUPPORT TO AND<br />
INVOLVEMENT WITH OUR<br />
LOCAL PARTNERS: Jeff King and<br />
Cub Scouts Pack 8; the Miller<br />
family, Boy Scouts, and Venture<br />
Crew from Troop 308; and the<br />
members of Monadnock Trail<br />
Breakers Snowmobile Club, the<br />
New Hampshire Fish and Game<br />
Department’s Wildlife Division<br />
(Jim Oehler, Denyce Gagne, Mike<br />
Marchand, Brian Lemire, and<br />
Wendy Ward from NRCS), USACE<br />
Operations Division; Kimberly<br />
Russell, Natalie McCormack, Rob<br />
Shanks, Jen Rockett, Marty Curran,<br />
Joshua Levesque, and Matt<br />
Cummings.<br />
First female Sapper graduate in Honduras<br />
COL CHARLES SAMARIS, Command Engineer for United States Southern<br />
Command, congratulates SGT JESSICA BAINES, the first female Sapper (Zapador)<br />
graduate in Honduras. She is a member of 1st EN BN, based in Sequatepeque,<br />
Honduras. U.S. Southern Command conducted a key leader engagement in<br />
Honduras to explore opportunities for leveraging Joint Engineer forces to support<br />
the growth of the Honduran Engineer School.<br />
1 A painted turtle rests on a log. PHOTO BY U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE<br />
20 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 21
HELPING YOU<br />
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HEAVY-EQUIPMENT TRAINING IN TODAY’S HIGH-TECH ENVIRONMENT<br />
SHRADER<br />
by COL “SCOTTY” R. SHRADER PHOTOS BY NATE HURN<br />
HEAVY-EQUIPMENT TRAINING in TODAY’S<br />
HIGH-TECH ENVIRONMENT<br />
THE 4<strong>16</strong>TH THEATER<br />
ENGINEER COMMAND<br />
(TEC) is leading the Army in<br />
21st-century training practices<br />
with the purchase of<br />
heavy-equipment simulators<br />
for the horizontal <strong>engineer</strong><br />
units across the Army Reserve.<br />
The command purchased<br />
more than 120 Cat ® Simulators<br />
last year. Each horizontal<br />
<strong>engineer</strong> unit in the 4<strong>16</strong>th<br />
and 412th TEC received four<br />
next-gen simulators—a hydraulic<br />
excavator, small wheel<br />
loader, track-type tractor, and<br />
an M-Series motor grader,<br />
along with a manager’s workstation.<br />
The simulator systems not<br />
only train soldiers to become<br />
tactically and technically<br />
proficient but also to boost<br />
critical thinking skills for<br />
heavy equipment operators.<br />
Furthermore, the technologyenabled<br />
training empowers<br />
unit leaders to undertake<br />
training while reducing<br />
soldiers’ direct exposure<br />
to hazardous risk, which is<br />
ultimately beneficial to the<br />
soldier and the government.<br />
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL<br />
PROFICIENCY<br />
Prior to stepping foot on a<br />
machine, soldiers are immersed<br />
in a cab environment<br />
that features original equipment<br />
manufacturer (OEM)<br />
parts and a spatial layout<br />
of controls identical to the<br />
actual machine. This, coupled<br />
with realistic and immersive<br />
training simulation experience,<br />
ensures their learning<br />
transfers directly to the heavy<br />
equipment at the work site.<br />
The simulator training<br />
environment is completely<br />
independent of the surrounding<br />
area and weather<br />
conditions. Weather events<br />
can cause massive variation<br />
in the scheduled training<br />
for soldiers. During winter<br />
months, lightning strikes, or<br />
the muddy spring season,<br />
soldiers can continue to train<br />
on the simulator, as training<br />
is not affected by the<br />
weather. Soldiers are able to<br />
maintain aggressive training<br />
tempos and instructors are<br />
able to provide better training<br />
oversight to both novice<br />
and experienced equipment<br />
operators, developing key<br />
technical skillsets, that build<br />
experienced, proficient, and<br />
experienced operators. Over<br />
the years, organizations such<br />
as the U.S. Air Force have<br />
greatly relied on simulator<br />
training to hone their operators’<br />
craft with a very high<br />
level of success. Today’s Army<br />
Reserve Engineers are looking<br />
to capitalize on these vital<br />
lessons learned by training<br />
a new generation of soldiers<br />
using simulations, enhancing<br />
the individual soldier’s<br />
capabilities to operate this<br />
technically complex heavy<br />
earth-moving machinery.<br />
HEIGHTENED CRITICAL THINKING<br />
Critical thinking is a key<br />
component of every mission.<br />
Soldiers can work<br />
through complex construction<br />
scenarios enhancing the<br />
learning environment through<br />
the exceptional realism of<br />
audio and video graphics in<br />
the custom software, along<br />
with the fully articulated seat<br />
and hand controls. Training<br />
exercises are based on input<br />
from subject-matter experts<br />
with this data used to establish<br />
benchmark information.<br />
Unit leaders and instructors<br />
can provide instant feedback<br />
throughout the training<br />
exercises as the soldiers’<br />
results are recorded and<br />
made available for immediate<br />
use. Instructors, soldiers, and<br />
unit leaders can review the<br />
data and apply the lessons<br />
learned to future exercises<br />
and missions. Soldiers progressively<br />
refine their critical<br />
thinking skills as this activity<br />
improves their ability to<br />
conduct after-action reviews<br />
“MY OPINION only got stronger on the need for the simulators. They are an excellent training tool as well as a great source of<br />
sustainment training.” — JOE TARCZYNSKI, GRADER INSTRUCTOR<br />
24 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 25
HEAVY-EQUIPMENT TRAINING IN TODAY’S HIGH-TECH ENVIRONMENT<br />
SHRADER<br />
and refine standard operating<br />
procedures to ensure mission<br />
success.<br />
INCREASED SAFETY;<br />
DECREASED EXPOSURE TO RISK<br />
Through increased “stick<br />
time” safety checks and operating<br />
procedures become<br />
second nature. The iterative<br />
training, building confidence,<br />
developing experience, on<br />
the simulators develop strong<br />
motor skills and muscle<br />
memory in soldiers, helping<br />
them to understand the<br />
complex equipment and what<br />
must be done to operate<br />
the equipment under severe<br />
conditions experienced in<br />
combat construction. By the<br />
time soldiers hit the job site,<br />
skills and safety procedures<br />
have become an intuitive<br />
reflexive memory.<br />
The simulators can replicate<br />
catastrophic incidents,<br />
allowing soldiers to face the<br />
challenge of operating equipment<br />
under stress. By understanding<br />
the equipment’s<br />
capabilities, soldiers gain<br />
confidence, mitigate risk, and<br />
become safer operators. This,<br />
in turn, leads to accomplishing<br />
the mission in less time,<br />
limiting the potential exposure<br />
to enemy fire. Through<br />
this training, unit leaders are<br />
ensuring mission success and<br />
the safety of their soldiers.<br />
DECREASED COSTS;<br />
MAXIMIZED RESOURCES<br />
Integrating the simulator<br />
training into the existing<br />
Army Reserve’s “one weekend<br />
per month, two weeks<br />
per year” training schedule is<br />
already saving a quantifiable<br />
amount of taxpayer dollars.<br />
Increased “stick time” results<br />
in significant reduction of<br />
wear and tear on equipment,<br />
with the added benefit of<br />
considerable savings in fuel<br />
costs. In the face of increasingly<br />
diminishing resources,<br />
reserve units are maximizing<br />
every opportunity to train<br />
soldiers year round, independent<br />
of environmental<br />
conditions and equipment<br />
maintenance schedules.<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
The Army Reserve <strong>engineer</strong>s<br />
are leading the way with the<br />
use of Cat ® Simulators. By<br />
creating a successful learning<br />
environment and setting conditions<br />
in which challenging<br />
situations are met head-on<br />
in a virtual environment, the<br />
simulators enable soldiers<br />
from the 4<strong>16</strong>th and 412th<br />
TECs to become tactically<br />
and technically proficient<br />
in the use of heavy equipment,<br />
executing construction<br />
missions in both CONUS<br />
and combat construction.<br />
Soldiers master the functions,<br />
features, and capabilities of<br />
their equipment before they<br />
step foot inside the actual<br />
machine. Unit leaders can<br />
mitigate considerable safety<br />
risks on the job site through<br />
the regular use of simulator<br />
training and applying lessons<br />
learned. Simulation training<br />
quickly pays for itself when<br />
quantifying the costs of the<br />
alternative: fuel, maintenance,<br />
and time, plus the<br />
potential damage to property<br />
or injury to soldiers. Simulator<br />
training is a smart use of time<br />
and tax-payer dollars in the<br />
face of diminishing resources.<br />
The implementation of Cat ®<br />
Simulators by the 4<strong>16</strong>th and<br />
412th TECs are a training<br />
enabler to continually build<br />
training and readiness in our<br />
soldiers.<br />
COL “SCOTTY” R. SHRADER<br />
graduated Utah State<br />
University in 1987 with a<br />
bachelor of science degree<br />
in business administration,<br />
production management,<br />
and graduated the<br />
Command and General Staff<br />
College. He enlisted into the<br />
Utah National Guard as an<br />
artilleryman in 1985 and soon<br />
after entered the Reserve<br />
Officer Training Corps at<br />
Utah State University. He<br />
was commissioned in the<br />
field artillery branch in 1987.<br />
He has served the Engineer<br />
Regiment since 1994,<br />
starting as a first lieutenant<br />
and serving in positions of<br />
increasing responsibility<br />
from the company, battalion,<br />
brigade, Regional Support<br />
Command, USARC, OCAR,<br />
and DA Staff levels.<br />
A skilled and versatile<br />
<strong>engineer</strong>, he capably<br />
served as Engineer Force/<br />
Organizational Integrator<br />
for the Chief, Army Reserve,<br />
with two deployments to the<br />
Iraqi Theater of Operations<br />
as an <strong>engineer</strong>, one with<br />
the 353rd EN GP, 1st CAV<br />
DIV, and the second time to<br />
serve as the Military Police<br />
Brigade Engineer for Task<br />
Force MP North under Task<br />
Force 134, Multi-National<br />
Force-Iraq during Operation<br />
Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In the<br />
latter assignment, Shrader<br />
was responsible for three of<br />
the largest detention facility<br />
construction projects in Iraq,<br />
amounting to more than 850<br />
million dollars.<br />
Upon returning from<br />
OIF, Shrader assumed the<br />
dual role of the Engineer<br />
and Logistics Management<br />
Officer, G-4, of the 4<strong>16</strong>th<br />
TEC. He conducted<br />
a strategic regimentlevel<br />
DOTMLPF process<br />
application to upgrade the<br />
force from the inside out. The<br />
4<strong>16</strong>th and 412th TECs afford<br />
him the ability to cross the<br />
spectrum of operations from<br />
DA/DOD to all supporting<br />
agencies. Additionally, he<br />
has done work to facilitate<br />
a much better relationship<br />
between both Engineer<br />
Commands at the G-4<br />
and Operations levels of<br />
command.<br />
In his senior assignments,<br />
Shrader has held key roles,<br />
such as the Acting Chief<br />
of Staff, 4<strong>16</strong>th TEC, and<br />
Director, Army Reserve<br />
Engineer for Integration.<br />
He has been the catalyst<br />
to implement and execute<br />
the de-modularization of<br />
the Army Reserve Engineer<br />
force structure, advising<br />
DA and OCAR staffs on<br />
the initiative to right size<br />
and shape the future Army<br />
Reserve Engineer Structure,<br />
designing the architectural<br />
rewrite and development of<br />
the Regiments Sets Kits and<br />
Outfits as well as cultivating<br />
vital partnerships with Tankautomotive<br />
and Armaments<br />
Command (TACOM), U.S.<br />
Army Maneuver Support<br />
Center of Excellence<br />
(MSCoE), United States<br />
Army Training and Doctrine<br />
Command (TRADOC), and<br />
the United States Army<br />
Engineer School in order to<br />
bring the optimal <strong>engineer</strong><br />
resources to focus in pursuing<br />
our national interests.<br />
COL Shrader’s awards<br />
and decorations include<br />
the Bronze Star Medal,<br />
two Meritorious Service<br />
Medals, and five Army<br />
Commendation Medals.<br />
26 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 27
MEMORANDUM<br />
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Bobcat ® , the Bobcat logo and the colors of the Bobcat machine are registered trademarks of Bobcat Company in the United States and various other countries.<br />
Available through DLA and GSA contracts.<br />
©20<strong>16</strong> Bobcat Company. All rights reserved. | 1307<br />
JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 29
ARMING THE COMBAT ENGINEER WITH THE POWER TO PERFORM<br />
HIPPO MULTIPOWER<br />
WITH THE<br />
ARMING THE<br />
COMBAT<br />
ENGINEER<br />
POWER TO<br />
PERFORM<br />
THE DEPARTMENT of Defense<br />
(DoD) and U.S. Army<br />
are on the constant lookout<br />
to identify commercial energy<br />
and power technology<br />
suitable for military deployment.<br />
Testing and adapting<br />
innovative technologies in<br />
mobile power generation,<br />
energy conversion, power<br />
distribution, and energy storage<br />
is an ongoing project.<br />
This search for mobile<br />
power solutions is necessary<br />
because almost every task<br />
or activity the U.S. military<br />
engages in today is linked directly<br />
to some power source.<br />
Examples include personal<br />
solutions like soldier-worn<br />
portable battery chargers<br />
for powering field infantry<br />
electronics to advances in<br />
dynamic power requirements<br />
for the largest of weapons<br />
systems. Discovering new,<br />
more efficient ways to match<br />
power with mission-critical<br />
components is a key to maintaining<br />
the country’s military<br />
advantage.<br />
For Army combat <strong>engineer</strong>s,<br />
the need for power solutions<br />
to drive power equipment<br />
has never been more<br />
crucial. Two words stand out<br />
in particular for these power<br />
requirements especially in<br />
battle situations: the need for<br />
mobility and reliability.<br />
MOBILE POWER IN THE FIELD<br />
For more than two centuries,<br />
Army combat <strong>engineer</strong>s have<br />
stood ready to support the<br />
country’s military performing<br />
a variety of construction<br />
and demolition tasks under<br />
combat conditions.<br />
The combat <strong>engineer</strong>s’<br />
missions typically involve one<br />
of two goals: improving the<br />
ability of one’s own troops<br />
to move around the battlefield<br />
or building obstacles<br />
to prevent the enemy from<br />
easily maneuvering. Tasks<br />
could include construction<br />
or destruction of roads,<br />
bridges, water distribution<br />
points, field fortifications,<br />
and obstacles. In these roles,<br />
combat <strong>engineer</strong>s use a variety<br />
of power tools in addition<br />
to manual hand tools. For<br />
the former, different mobile<br />
power sources are often<br />
needed, power sources that<br />
include hydraulic, air, electric,<br />
and welding.<br />
Until recently, getting<br />
all this power into the field<br />
often required four separate<br />
vehicles or tow-ins. This often<br />
resulted in logistical challenges,<br />
especially in combat<br />
situations in which linear<br />
approaches to solving <strong>engineer</strong>ing<br />
problems could cost<br />
the mission valuable time or<br />
even the element of surprise.<br />
When called to duty, combat<br />
<strong>engineer</strong>s need to get<br />
in, get the job done, and get<br />
out—which means having the<br />
power to accomplish all tasks<br />
readily at hand no matter<br />
1 Welding in remote locations can be easily<br />
accomplished with the HIPPO 2042E, a variant of the<br />
2032E available through GSA/TLS.<br />
1<br />
30 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 31
ARMING THE COMBAT ENGINEER WITH THE POWER TO PERFORM<br />
HIPPO MULTIPOWER<br />
2<br />
what task they face. Having<br />
all power sources in a single<br />
multipower unit is preferable,<br />
and the ability to run multiple<br />
power sources simultaneously<br />
is a force multiplier and<br />
greatly reduces the soldiers’<br />
exposure.<br />
One commercial company,<br />
HIPPO Multipower, located<br />
in Kansas City, had successfully<br />
developed a Complete<br />
Power Solution (CPS) solution<br />
that c<strong>aug</strong>ht the eye of both<br />
the Engineer Regiment of<br />
the U.S. Army, located at Fort<br />
Leonard Wood, MO, and<br />
the DoD. The self-contained<br />
HIPPO Multipower units run<br />
on 30-HP diesel engines and<br />
have all four power sources<br />
available with the ability to<br />
run any two power sources<br />
at one time without any cycle<br />
time loss. Constructed with<br />
heavy-duty lifting rings and a<br />
high-strength steel and aluminum<br />
enclosure, the units<br />
were ideally suited for use in<br />
rugged, battlefield environments.<br />
MEETING POWER RELIABILITY<br />
STANDARDS<br />
But locating a power source<br />
option is different from being<br />
ready to deploy in the field,<br />
and like any commercial<br />
technology solution, the<br />
HIPPO CPS unit had to first<br />
pass intense scrutiny and<br />
testing. This process took<br />
more than six years to fully<br />
test the durability and reliability<br />
of the power units.<br />
First came extensive operational<br />
and environmental<br />
testing at Aberdeen Proving<br />
2 Hydraulic power makes quick work of setting this picket.<br />
32 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 33
ARMING THE COMBAT ENGINEER WITH THE POWER TO PERFORM<br />
HIPPO MULTIPOWER<br />
3<br />
Ground. After completing<br />
these in-depth tests, the CPS<br />
unit also was subjected to<br />
real-world evaluation and<br />
testing with the U.S. Army<br />
Reserve. The two battalions<br />
enlisted in this effort were the<br />
911th combat <strong>engineer</strong> battalion<br />
at Fort Belvoir, VA, and<br />
the 411th combat <strong>engineer</strong><br />
battalion in Harrison, AR.<br />
HIPPO Multipower began<br />
selling CPS units to the U.S.<br />
Army combat <strong>engineer</strong>s in<br />
2008, and the HIPPO CPS<br />
2032E was later granted a<br />
National Stock Number (NSN<br />
6115-01-585-4339), opening<br />
availability to all U.S. government<br />
entities. Since 2010, the<br />
U.S. Army Engineers’ HEP-<br />
POE Tool Kit has been a program<br />
of record, and includes<br />
the HIPPO CPS 2032E as<br />
the backbone power unit of<br />
that kit. As a retired USASOC<br />
colonel said, “the feedback<br />
from the 18C Committee is<br />
that every team should have<br />
one ... those guys love it and<br />
use it continuously.”<br />
Nearly a thousand HIPPO<br />
Multipower CPS units have<br />
been fielded by the U.S.<br />
military throughout the world<br />
and has been selected by the<br />
DoD as the most dependable<br />
mobile multipower unit<br />
available.<br />
“It’s an honor to be<br />
selected by the DoD in this<br />
manner,” said Mike Blank,<br />
president, Hippo Multipower.<br />
“We understand the<br />
importance of having remote<br />
mobile power available so<br />
<strong>engineer</strong>s can be battleready<br />
and better equipped<br />
for successful missions.”<br />
Innovative commercial<br />
solutions like the CPS are<br />
constantly being sourced to<br />
keep up with the increased<br />
power consumption needs<br />
of the U.S. military, and as<br />
technology improvements<br />
continue to increase the effectiveness<br />
and safety of our<br />
troops, you can expect this<br />
trend to continue.<br />
For more information<br />
about the unique HIPPO<br />
Multipower mobile solution<br />
listed in the procurement<br />
system, visit www.<br />
HippoMultipower.com/<br />
military.<br />
3 The HIPPO Multipower CPS unit lets combat <strong>engineer</strong>s manage more<br />
jobs with fewer pieces of equipment with hydraulic, air, electric, and<br />
welding power from one self-contained diesel-powered unit.<br />
34 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 35
A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR AN ARMY ENGINEER<br />
OLSON<br />
A NEW<br />
PERSPECTIVE<br />
FOR AN<br />
ARMY<br />
ENGINEER<br />
O N E Y E A R O N A N U C L E A R<br />
C O N S T R U C T I O N P R O J E C T<br />
by MAJ ANDREW OLSON, P.E., PMP<br />
IN 2002, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY awarded<br />
a contract to Parsons to design, construct, commission,<br />
and test a Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) at the<br />
Savannah River Site located near Aiken, SC. The facility<br />
is critical to properly disposing of 36 million gallons of<br />
cold-war–era nuclear waste and will replace the only<br />
two operational radionuclide decontamination facilities<br />
for liquid wastes in the nation, increasing the current<br />
processing rate by a factor of six. Construction was<br />
completed on the facility in April 20<strong>16</strong> and the project is<br />
now in the commissioning and testing phase.<br />
While participating in the Training with Industry (TWI)<br />
broadening program, I was assigned to Parsons and<br />
the SWPF project. I participated in the final 20% of<br />
construction and the transition from the construction<br />
phase to commissioning and testing. I worked closely<br />
with the lead construction manager and other key<br />
players and actively managed part of the process. The<br />
Engineer Regiment’s TWI program provides experience,<br />
insights, and training that simply cannot be gained<br />
anywhere in the Army. For <strong>engineer</strong> officers en-route to<br />
a utilization tour with USACE, 12 months of experience<br />
on a complex project with a large construction firm is<br />
extremely valuable.<br />
1 Aerial view of the Salt Waste Processing Facility at the Department<br />
of Energy Savannah River Site.<br />
1<br />
2<br />
36 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 37
A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR AN ARMY ENGINEER<br />
OLSON<br />
MAKING DECISIONS MATTER<br />
When a decision needs to<br />
be made by an Army commander,<br />
it is second-nature<br />
for the commander’s staff<br />
to conduct mission analysis,<br />
and follow through the other<br />
steps of the Military Decision-<br />
Making Process (MDMP)<br />
culminating with orders<br />
production. The fact that the<br />
Army’s planning processes<br />
are codified and formalized,<br />
t<strong>aug</strong>ht to all leaders, and<br />
oft-practiced, leads to an<br />
efficiency that would rarely<br />
be matched in the civilian<br />
sector. The same automatic<br />
response to a decision point<br />
and efficiency with a formal<br />
planning process is less likely<br />
to occur in the corporate sector<br />
because decisions rarely<br />
require action in such a timeconstrained,<br />
sleep-deprived,<br />
and high-stress environment<br />
in which the Army operates.<br />
There is not such a need to<br />
formalize the process and<br />
enforce training on mid-level<br />
managers and leaders. In<br />
some cases, an Army officer,<br />
well-versed in MDMP, might<br />
add value in a corporate<br />
environment by formalizing<br />
and expediting the existing<br />
decision-making process.<br />
Most active duty Army officers<br />
are well-practiced at<br />
troop-leading procedures<br />
and MDMP, but may not<br />
be aware that these same<br />
principles and processes<br />
can readily be applied in the<br />
corporate sector.<br />
My involvement at<br />
Parsons included participating<br />
in decision-making that<br />
altered the task organization<br />
of foremen, superintendents,<br />
and <strong>engineer</strong>s to better align<br />
with the final processes leading<br />
to system turnovers. As<br />
the project progressed, final<br />
tasks leading to system turnovers<br />
grew in number while<br />
the numbers of other construction<br />
tasks began to decrease.<br />
Management began<br />
to consider how to increase<br />
efficiency with the shifting<br />
work focus. Managers across<br />
the organization informally<br />
voiced opinions, desires, and<br />
concerns either as part of<br />
routine meetings or in private<br />
discussions with upper<br />
management. However, no<br />
consensus emerged. At this<br />
point, I was able to implement<br />
a hasty and condensed<br />
version of MDMP (albeit late)<br />
and provided the decisionmaker<br />
with a course of action<br />
comparison and later with a<br />
plan to publish. In retrospect,<br />
this process might have been<br />
improved by a more formal<br />
and timely implementation.<br />
In the aftermath of this decision,<br />
I created a step-by-step<br />
model patterned after the<br />
MDMP to assist with future<br />
significant decisions where<br />
appropriate.<br />
A formal process is likely<br />
to speed up fact-gathering<br />
(and subsequent decisionmaking),<br />
provide more transparency<br />
to all stakeholders,<br />
and ensure a more objective<br />
or less-biased analysis and<br />
comparison of solutions.<br />
Without a formal process, it<br />
is difficult to confirm that the<br />
decision-maker has all the<br />
facts and an objective and<br />
relevant comparison to guide<br />
his or her decision.<br />
QUALITY CONTROL EMPHASIS<br />
This TWI assignment with<br />
Parsons, particularly working<br />
on a nuclear project, has<br />
deepened my appreciation<br />
for quality control and quality<br />
assurance like no experience<br />
in the Army ever could.<br />
Achieving quality standards<br />
on a large construction<br />
project requires a significant<br />
effort to plan and execute<br />
quality-control activities and<br />
processes. This textbook<br />
statement could pass as<br />
common knowledge or a<br />
“no-brainer” for anyone in<br />
the industry. However, hard<br />
copy and digital records for<br />
80,000 pipe welds, verification<br />
of placement and proper<br />
torque values on more than<br />
30,000 flange bolts and other<br />
connections, and ensuring<br />
traceability for more than<br />
50,000 bolts, gaskets, valves,<br />
and other safety significant<br />
material from the factory to<br />
the point of installation all attest<br />
to the hard truth of that<br />
simple textbook statement.<br />
The processes established to<br />
achieve the high standards<br />
required by the American<br />
Society of Mechanical<br />
Engineers Nuclear Quality<br />
Assurance Regulation (ASME<br />
NQA-1) are impressively<br />
thorough. Having been a part<br />
of the contractor’s preparation<br />
for these inspections, I’m<br />
certain now that I’ll be able<br />
to help ensure more effective<br />
partnerships with contractors<br />
for construction quality management<br />
in the future.<br />
SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT<br />
Safety and risk management<br />
principles are paramount<br />
in both the Army and the<br />
private sector. There are<br />
many parallels between the<br />
Parsons’ safety program on<br />
the SWPF project and a typical<br />
Army brigade or battalion.<br />
Just as an Army unit has<br />
a practical need and a real<br />
desire to protect the health<br />
and safety of its Soldiers, a<br />
construction firm also needs<br />
and desires to ensure the<br />
safety and wellness of its<br />
skilled laborers throughout<br />
varied and dangerous operations.<br />
At Parsons, the project<br />
Job Hazard Analyses parallel<br />
the Army’s Risk Management<br />
Worksheets, ensuring that all<br />
work controls and mitigation<br />
measures are tailored to<br />
the specific site and circumstances.<br />
When circumstances<br />
or activities change<br />
at the construction site, the<br />
pertinent hazard analysis is<br />
updated with input from the<br />
workers and foremen directly<br />
involved. Both the Army and<br />
Parsons hold regular safety<br />
briefs and emphasize safety<br />
24/7, at home as well as on<br />
duty. Both organizations reinforce<br />
that safety is everyone’s<br />
responsibility empowering<br />
individuals and leaders at<br />
all levels to address safety<br />
concerns. In November, the<br />
SWPF project was recognized<br />
for achieving OSHA’s prestigious<br />
Voluntary Protection<br />
Program (VPP) Star Status.<br />
The most notable factor leading<br />
to this distinction is not<br />
the excellent safety record<br />
from the recent past, but<br />
rather the positive and pervasive<br />
safety culture that is in<br />
place. At Parsons, as in the<br />
Army, keys to establishing<br />
a positive safety culture include:<br />
1) leaders at all levels<br />
take responsibility for safety,<br />
2) everyone is included<br />
and involved in preventing<br />
and addressing hazards, 3)<br />
leaders consistently enforce<br />
established safety standards<br />
and model safe practices.<br />
“EARNED VALUE”<br />
MUST BE MANAGED<br />
Federal Acquisition Regulation<br />
specifies that all costincentive<br />
contracts over $20<br />
million must use Earned<br />
Value Management System<br />
(EVMS) to track and report<br />
progress. 1 I was able to<br />
spend one month observing<br />
and assisting in the<br />
2 MAJ Andrew Olson poses<br />
inside the Salt Waste Treatment<br />
Facility with a cross-flow filter in<br />
the background.<br />
PHOTO BY CHRIS GOOD, PARSONS<br />
schedule and cost management<br />
processes that lead to<br />
EVMS reporting. Seeing and<br />
dealing with the details of<br />
the systems as they match<br />
raw data to required reports,<br />
as well as accounting for<br />
recent progress and schedule<br />
adjustments by leveling<br />
resources has helped me<br />
to understand the “story”<br />
behind the numbers on an<br />
EVMS report. While I may<br />
never become a cost <strong>engineer</strong>,<br />
scheduling expert, or<br />
project controls manager, I<br />
certainly can appreciate the<br />
critical role they play on very<br />
large projects.<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
Living the life of a government<br />
contractor in the<br />
construction industry for<br />
a year has allowed me to<br />
“walk a mile in their shoes,”<br />
broadening my perspective<br />
and deepening my understanding<br />
of the construction<br />
contracting and management<br />
process. Previously I<br />
had learned many of these<br />
processes and theoretical<br />
concepts in the classroom<br />
and had gained some<br />
practical experience applying<br />
them while assigned to<br />
USACE Europe District and<br />
Afghanistan Engineer District<br />
South. However, applying<br />
these concepts inside a large<br />
construction firm and living<br />
with the results over a year’s<br />
time has allowed me to transition<br />
the book knowledge to<br />
a working understanding on<br />
a practical level. I believe in<br />
the adage“Unless you apply<br />
it, you do not understand it.”<br />
After this TWI experience, I<br />
know that when I transition to<br />
a USACE utilization assignment,<br />
I’ll be much better<br />
prepared to negotiate and<br />
partner with construction<br />
contractors on USACE projects.<br />
The Engineer Regiment<br />
should continue the TWI<br />
program precisely because it<br />
infuses the <strong>engineer</strong> officer<br />
corps with valuable knowledge<br />
and understanding that<br />
could not be gained anywhere<br />
else.<br />
2<br />
MAJ ANDREW OLSON, Training<br />
with Industry Fellow with<br />
duty at Parsons, Aiken, SC,<br />
will assume duties as the<br />
Deputy Commander, USACE<br />
Seattle District, in August<br />
20<strong>16</strong>.<br />
ENDNOTE<br />
1<br />
Department of Defense<br />
Instruction (DoDI) 5000.02,<br />
December 2008, Table 5, EVM<br />
Implementation Policy.<br />
THIS ARTICLE ALSO APPEARS<br />
IN THE MILITARY ENGINEER,<br />
JULY-AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong>.<br />
38 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 39
TRAIL KING<br />
CONTRACT<br />
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Dependable.<br />
M A N U F A C T U R E D T O E X C E E D<br />
E V E R Y C H A L L E N G E<br />
SOUTH CAROLINA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD TWINS REFLECT ON FLOOD RESPONSE • PRAVATO<br />
SOUTH CAROLINA ARMY<br />
NATIONAL GUARD TWINS REFLECT<br />
ON FLOOD RESPONSE<br />
by<br />
SGT TASHERA PRAVATO<br />
SIX MONTHS AFTER historic<br />
flooding devastated parts<br />
of South Carolina, many<br />
residents took time to reflect<br />
on the events of those days<br />
in early October 2015, while<br />
others were still trying to get<br />
back to their normal lives.<br />
Among those are two South<br />
Carolina National Guardsmen,<br />
who are South Carolina<br />
natives and public servants.<br />
The Sirmon twins are just<br />
now taking time to look back<br />
on their involvement in the<br />
flood response.<br />
CWO3 William Sirmon<br />
and CPT Jay Sirmon, who<br />
have served a combined 22<br />
years in the SC Army National<br />
Guard, were called to<br />
respond on 2 October 2015,<br />
after heavy rains and flood<br />
waters began impacting<br />
South Carolina.<br />
“On my ride in, I realized<br />
this was an extraordinary<br />
event. I passed a state<br />
trooper who was pointing his<br />
car north in the southbound<br />
lane and I slowed down and<br />
we both exchanged looks of<br />
amazement,” said William, a<br />
UH-60 Black Hawk pilot and<br />
member of the SC-Helicopter<br />
Aquatic Rescue Team. “As<br />
I continued, I saw multiple<br />
overturned cars. I witnessed<br />
an unoccupied van drift and<br />
overturn in the westbound<br />
lane.”<br />
Jay, an Army <strong>engineer</strong>,<br />
spent the first few days of<br />
the Guard’s response at<br />
the state’s Joint Operations<br />
Center, but soon went to the<br />
Columbia canal to help support<br />
the <strong>engineer</strong> response.<br />
The twins, who enlisted in<br />
the SC National Guard and<br />
completed Basic Combat<br />
Training together in 2005,<br />
spoke every day while assisting<br />
during the flood to check<br />
on each other and share<br />
experiences.<br />
“We are very close and<br />
always have been. During<br />
breaks in the response we<br />
would exchange quick phone<br />
calls and text messages,”<br />
said Jay. “Prior to the canal<br />
project, I was in the JOC and<br />
I made sure to track the SC-<br />
HART missions regularly to<br />
see what he was up to.”<br />
Because William is a pilot<br />
and Jay is an <strong>engineer</strong>, they<br />
saw different aspects of the<br />
1<br />
flood and flood response.<br />
“There were children we<br />
evacuated and I’m sure this<br />
was a terrifying experience<br />
for them. I would take a quick<br />
glance back as they entered<br />
the aircraft to check on and<br />
reassure them. My twins were<br />
9 months old at the time<br />
of the flood, and my heart<br />
went out to those children’s<br />
parents,” said William. “One<br />
rescue involved a mother<br />
and her child. They were in<br />
the attic and the waters were<br />
well past the first story of<br />
their home. Prior to that, a<br />
firefighter had been swept<br />
away trying to get access<br />
to their house, and it was a<br />
very difficult hoist. When we<br />
dropped them off, they were<br />
overcome with emotion but<br />
safe.”<br />
Jay spent a lot of time on<br />
the ground while working on<br />
the Columbia canal to help<br />
reestablish the city’s water<br />
supply. With various other<br />
<strong>engineer</strong> missions, altogether<br />
he was active for 32 days during<br />
the flood response. He<br />
said previous deployments<br />
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1 U.S. Army CPT Jay Sirmon,<br />
an <strong>engineer</strong> officer assigned<br />
to the training site command,<br />
and his brother CWO3 William<br />
Sirmon, a pilot assigned to<br />
the 1-111th General Support<br />
Aviation Battalion, SC Army<br />
National Guard, pose for a photo<br />
after a flight taken to survey the<br />
recovery efforts. PHOTO BY AIRMAN<br />
1ST CLASS MEGAN FLOYD, U.S. AIR<br />
NATIONAL GUARD<br />
JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 41
SOUTH CAROLINA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD TWINS REFLECT ON FLOOD RESPONSE<br />
PRAVATO<br />
to combat zones helped him<br />
and his team operate under<br />
extreme pressure.<br />
“Most of those working<br />
on the canal were used<br />
to operating in a changing<br />
environment. The biggest difference<br />
was this is home and<br />
we were conducting these<br />
missions in our backyards,<br />
with our neighbors,” said Jay.<br />
Both Jay and William have<br />
deployed overseas, including<br />
to Iraq, Afghanistan,<br />
and Kosovo. The brothers<br />
added that their father grew<br />
up in Forest Acres, one of<br />
the more heavily impacted<br />
areas from breached dams<br />
and flood waters. They said<br />
seeing how catastrophic the<br />
event was made them want<br />
to do whatever they could to<br />
help.<br />
Weather experts estimate<br />
approximately 11 trillion gallons<br />
of rain fell on the Carolinas<br />
that caused the severe<br />
flooding. At the peak of the<br />
response, more than 4,000<br />
SC National Guard soldiers<br />
and airmen were on duty to<br />
assist first responders.<br />
“The support from citizens<br />
of our state and others was<br />
overwhelming. Random<br />
people would stop by the<br />
canal to drop off food and<br />
water and to offer thanks.<br />
We had a local mosque drop<br />
food off one day—that one<br />
really stuck with me,” said<br />
Jay. “The attitude of the soldiers<br />
was incredible. These<br />
guys were operating around<br />
the clock with little sleep, yet<br />
they had the same level of<br />
intensity on day 30 as they<br />
did on day one.”<br />
Six months later, parts<br />
of South Carolina were still<br />
recovering from the catastrophic<br />
flood, but those who<br />
experienced the historic<br />
event agree: it was the spirit<br />
of neighbors helping neighbors<br />
that got them through.<br />
The Sirmon twins said<br />
they knew their units were<br />
trained and ready to respond<br />
when called and they were<br />
proud to have been able to<br />
help when needed. They also<br />
shared words of gratitude<br />
about their loved ones at<br />
home who kept everything<br />
together while they were<br />
performing their missions.<br />
“Many of us spoke of<br />
Hugo as a defining moment<br />
in our state’s history, when<br />
we demonstrated to our<br />
nation the resiliency of South<br />
Carolinians. There is no<br />
doubt generations will again<br />
speak of the strength, character,<br />
and compassion South<br />
Carolinians have shown the<br />
world through this historic<br />
flood event,” said MG Robert<br />
E. Livingston, Jr., the adjutant<br />
general for South Carolina.<br />
“When your state called,<br />
you were ready.”<br />
2<br />
1<br />
2 Aerial photo of the recovery effort in Columbia, SC, on 5 April<br />
20<strong>16</strong> following the flood that hit the area in October 2015. Many<br />
bridges and roads remained closed six months later as recovery<br />
efforts were still underway. PHOTO BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS MEGAN<br />
FLOYD, U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD<br />
42 t ARMY ENGINEER JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> JULY / AUGUST 20<strong>16</strong> ARMY ENGINEER u 43
ENGINEERS’<br />
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AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, I DEDICATE MY<br />
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL TO THE<br />
ADVANCEMENT AND BETTERMENT OF HUMAN<br />
WELFARE.<br />
I PLEDGE:<br />
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ENTERPRISE;<br />
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OF MAN AND THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF<br />
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AND STANDING OF THE PROFESSION BEFORE<br />
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IN HUMILITY AND WITH NEED FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE,<br />
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MG LEIF J. SVERDRUP SCHOLARSHIP to an<br />
active or reserve component junior<br />
grade officer CPT or lower and an active<br />
or reserve component warrant officer<br />
W-1 or W-2.<br />
CSM ROBERT W. ELKEY SCHOLARSHIP to up<br />
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awarded to five individuals who are<br />
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SCHOLARSHIP to qualified AEA members<br />
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MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP to a son,<br />
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who lost his or her life in either<br />
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COL CARL F. BASWELL COMBAT-WOUNDED<br />
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