Earth moving

Platoon

Bravo Beast

July Highlights

SGT Vickers guides a HYEX while it fills a HESCO barrier

EM Soldiers level the ground prior to laying out HESCO barriers

SSG Shane directs the HYEX in filling HESCO barriers

Written by 2LT Julia Miller and SSG (P) Thomas Schwenkler

                

                 EM Platoon, Bravo Co., 46^th ECB (H) have been working very hard throughout the month of July. The platoon has two missions going on. SSG Shane is heading a range reconstruction with 2LT Miller, while SSG Haywood in charge of a range reconstruction, parking lot construction, and a road upgrade with SSG (P) Schwenkler. The Soldiers are working nine hour work days in the hot Iraq sun covered in dirt from head to toe. It is no easy task to rebuild a range, but EM Platoon, B Co, 46^th ECB (H) was up to the task. From demolishing the existing range complex, to setting up and filling the new HESCOs, EM Platoon are working hard to accomplish the mission.  Constructing a range goes beyond equipment operation; it requires just as many man hours of manual labor.

 

           SSG Shane and 2^nd Squad along with a few attachments from 3^rd Squad are almost done. To date, they have set up and filled 297 HESCOs. This many HESCOs require 3,773 cubic meters of dirt. This doesn’t include the many hours spent conduction demolition to the existing range. This mission has allowed SGT Gray, SPC Taylor, SPC Kromer, and PFC Dyer to become efficient in a new piece of equipment that EM doesn’t usually operate, the HYEX. This range will greatly increase the readiness of the units on ground.

 

           SSG Haywood and 1^st Squad along with a few 3^rd Squad attachments are operating on Victory Base Camp bettering the readiness of the Special Forces and Iraqi Soldiers.  After receiving the mission fourteen Soldiers dug deep to start the daunting task of reconstruction. They had to demolish and relocate existing earth berms in order to emplace the new HESCO walls that would separate the four different ranges. They also had to demolish, relocate fill material and reconstruct a .50 Cal Test Fire Pit.  Each HESCO wall constructed is 100 meters long standing 14 feet high. At the end of the mission, over 600 HESCOs will be moved, emplaced, fastened together and filled.  In addition to the range, the platoon was tasked to resurface a 200-meter range frontage road and construct a 100-meter by 70 meter parking area. The Parking area had to be leveled and compacted, and the road needs a complete facelift.

 

           We cannot forget the support of SSG Calhoun and his team of soldiers. Even though they are not physically on mission; they are vital to mission completion. With equipment going down often; they resource and get the Soldiers on the projects replacements or parts in a timely manner.

 

           The days are continuing to wind down.  EM continues to stay focus and work diligently.  The days are hot, but motivation and spirits are high.  Let’s continue to keep our troops in your prayers as we complete missions and prepare to reunite with our families very soon.

 

SGT Aaron Gray supervises as SPC Harold Taylor operates the HYEX in demoing the old range in preparation for the new HESCOs.

 

 

 

SSG Matthew Shane and SPC Christopher Bahr supervise as one of the PVTs operate the dozer.

 

 

PFC Gregory Dyer salutes CPT Beal after receiving a coin for his hard work thus far.

 

 

SGT Aaron Gray operates the HYEX.

 

 

 

 

SPC Harold Taylor and PFC Ryan Blue take a breather between leveling the HESCOs with shovels.

SSG Schwenkler lays out everything that he is taking back for the customs inspection.

SPC Burke anxiously waits for customs to inspect is gear