Sapper Sentinel
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Seabees train Afghan Engineers Logiscs important as Naonal on bridging skills … PAGE 3 Eng. Brigade grows… PAGE 6 Sapper Sentinel “SAPPERS IN!” JOINT TASK FORCE SAPPER NEWSLETTER OF THE THEATER ENGINEER BRIGADE IN AFGHANISTAN Facebook.com/TheaterEngineerBrigade Issue 5 — February 2014 Message from the Commander The month of February was largely spent seling in to our new environment at NKC. We then closed the month with visits to our At A Glance… units. We saw great work com‐ JTF SAPPER SERVING AS THEATER pleted by the ENGINEER BRIGADE, THE ENGINEER HQ AND EXPERTISE IN AFGHSNISTAN 284th Vercal Construcon and Photo by US Army Pfc. Dixie Rae Liwanag, Combat Camera ENGINEER FORCES SPREAD ACROSS 333rd Horizontal Construcon AFGHANISTAN IN SUPPORT OF companies at Shindand Air Base in NATO-LED INTERNATIONAL SECURITY western Afghanistan. Then we 203rd Engineer Kandak ASSISTANCE FORCE (ISAF) parcipated in the 333rd’s end‐of‐ JOINT TEAM LED BY 130TH ENG. tour awards ceremony and fare‐ Celebrates One Year BRIGADE HQS FROM SCHOFIELD well at FOB Shank. BARRACKS, HAWAII… INCLUDES By U.S. Army Sgt. Javier Amador Mohammad Yaali, the Engineer- Meanwhile, our training ACTIVE, RESERVE, AND GUARD UNITS mission with the Afghan engineers 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn., Public Affairs ing Kandak’s Commander, Afghan FROM ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE connues. The Seabees have truly Army Lt. Col. Sado Gul, as well as embraced their role in advising FORWARD OPERATING BASE U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David the Afghan Naonal Engineer THUNDER, Afghanistan – The Haight, and U.S. Army Maj. An- Brigade—it was very sasfying to 203rd Corps Engineering Kandak drew Olson, the former officer- in see two of the three Afghan units celebrated their first full year of - charge of the Spartan brigade’s graduate from inial training and operaons in the early aernoon engineering Security Force Advise Inside move to their final staon in Ka‐ of Feb. 17, with a ceremony held Assist Team, both with the 10th bul. We also had the opportunity on Forward Oper- Mountain Division. this issue… ang Base Thunder Haight and Olson to visit a team from the 365th “Some of our smartest COMMAND SGT. MAJ.’S CORNER. 2 and celebrang presented a brand SEABEE WATER WELL TEAM Engineer Baalion located in and most skillful soldiers northern Afghanistan where they with them was the new flag to be used are our engineers” ANA SOLDIERS LEARN ESSENTIAL 4 are training the Construcon Engi‐ Spartan brigade’s as the unit’s official IED SKILLS neer Baalion of the Afghan Engineering Securi- colors, aer which JTF SAPPER REACHES HALFWAY 5 209th Corps. ty Force Advise and Assist Team Haight reminded everyone pre- MARK IN DEPLOYMENT Finally, we hosted the 2nd who helped make the unit the sent about the great importance Eng. Brigade from Alaska when success story it is today. engineering units hold in any ENGINEERS ASSIST IN KANDAHAR 7 “RE-LOCATABLE” HOTEL they conducted their Pre‐ The ceremony, which con- army. Deployment Site Survey. It was a sisted of a formaon and inspec- “In the U.S. Army, historical- SOLDIERS CONTINUE TO LEARN LIFE- 8 SAVING SKILLS WHILE DEPLOYED reminder of how much our team on tour by the Commander of ly, some of our smartest and has accomplished in five months the Afghan Naonal Army’s 203rd most skillful soldiers are our engi- BROTHERS IN ARMS 10 and how quickly me is passing. Corps, Afghan Army Maj. Gen. (Continued on page 9) The next several weeks will HEADQUARTERS & HEADQUARTERS 11 COMPANY (HHC) UPDATE be busy for all of us. We look for‐ ward to connuing to make a JTF SAPPER CROSSWORD! 12 difference in support of the mis‐ GALLERY: AROUND THE BRIGADE. 13 sion in Afghanistan. As always, we CHAPLAIN’S CLOSING are thankful for our Families and friends for their unceasing sup‐ REMEMBERING FALLEN HEROS 14 port. SAPPERS IN!! — COL Diana Holland Page 1 Sapper Sentinel Issue 5 — February 2014 Command Sergeant Major’s Corner Command Sgt. Maj. John Etter, “Sapper 7” Aloha to our Ohana from proud of how our recent experi‐ Kabul, Afghanistan! ences have helped improve the “Five Dimensions of Strength” As each month passes, the that make up the program and me in between wring my mes‐ keep us focused both at work sage to our Fami‐ and at home. lies and friends Throughout the deployment back in Hawaii I have witnessed our Soldiers seems to go by balancing all the demands re‐ faster. quired of them and I challenge Photo by Chief Utilitiesman David Asbury I hope that the each of you to idenfy and dis‐ Seabees with NMCB 28 Water Well Team set up the mudpuppy at beauful island cuss with your loved ones ways their project site to aid in recycling the drill rig mud being used. weather is help‐ you can connue to get stronger ing the me go by just as fast for together. you as we complete the sixth For example, take the me month of the deployment. to share your accomplishments Seabees Provide Water I am connually impressed in the gym and encourage each with the resiliency of the Soldiers, other during a long distance NCOs, Officers and Families of phone call or video chat to Through Drilling Team our unit each day as mission achieve the goals you set. Or, By U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Michael Dwyer Afghanistan (CJOA-A). requirements change in prepara‐ highlight the posive skills you Joint Task Force Sapper Lead by Chief Uliesman on for the reducon of forces in have pracced while being apart: Afghanistan by the end of this learning to be more independent David Asbury, this team mobiliz- year. or having increased confidence Central Afghanistan – Sea- es across to various locaons JTF Sapper and the 130th when you are alone. bees from Naval Mobile Con- throughout the country in sup- Eng. Bde. have excelled in the Thank you for supporng strucon Baalions (NMCB) 28 port of bases’ needs. The Sea- Comprehensive Soldier and Fami‐ your Soldier! Happy New Year form the Task Force Coda water bees rotate shis to be able to ly Fitness program, a key compo‐ and Mahalo! (“Thank you!”) well team. This is a highly spe- work 24 hour days through the nent of the Army’s Ready and cialized team of Seabees that duraon of their projects. Resilient Campaign. Sappers In, provide well repair, remediaon, Recently, the team conduct- My interacon with the CSM John Eer and development service within ed on-site training at New Kabul personnel in our formaons across the country makes me Combined Joint Operaons Area- Compound for senior leaders of the 130th Engineer Brigade Headquarters. Training consist- ed of several staons that arcu- lated the full capability of a wa- This newsleer belongs to the ter well team and their current mission members of Joint Task Force Sapper… [The team] provides objec- well repair, ves. “This remediation, and area development service would create The Sapper Sennel is an authorized newsleer for members of the 130th Send us photos, stories, and ideas for a unique mission since our team Engineer Brigade and Joint Task Force future coverage, and see your unit’s has never dug a well on this base Sapper. Contents are not necessarily before,” said Asbury. “Other endorsed by the Dept. of the Army, Dept. accomplishments highlighted on our naons and contractors have of Defense, or United States Government. dug wells on NKC, but not Ameri- Content is reviewed, edited, and approved Facebook page and in future edions can forces.” by the Brigade Public Affairs Officer. of the Sapper Sennel! Due to this element, they For quesons, comments, or submissions, were able to explain to the sen- please contact the Brigade PAO. ior leaders at the training all that Public Affairs Officer: 1LT Laura Beth Beebe is required. The significant data [email protected] collecon that ensures the safety Facebook.com/TheaterEngineerBrigade of the Soldiers involved in the Email: [email protected] (Continued on page 6) Page 2 Sapper Sentinel Issue 5 — February 2014 “Bridging the Gap” Seabees Work with Afghan Army Specialty Engineers By Steelworker 2nd Class Amanda Lewis diers on the construcon of a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 28 Mabey Johnson bridge, a pre- engineered, steel panel bridge. CAMP PHOENIX, Afghani- Within the past couple of stan – As members of the Task weeks, these Seabees have fa- Force Engineering Brigade Advise miliarized their Afghan counter- and Assist Team (EBAAT), Sea- parts with parts recognion, bees of Naval Mobile Construc- roller layout, and have construct- on Baalion (NMCB) 28, based ed the launching nose secon. out of Barksdale Air Force Base, Although it has been chal- Shreveport, La., mentor and lenging overcoming the language advise soldiers of barrier, bridge the Afghan Na- “When [the ANA] push us master Ulies- onal Army man 1st Class (ANA) Naonal out of the way and take David Knapp Engineer Brigade charge, they are grasping describes the (NEB) Specialty the concept of pin and training as a Engineering Kan- panel bridging and are “rewarding expe- U.S. Navy photo by Chief Steelworker Barry Wood dak (SEK) on rience.” eager to participate” Uliesman 2nd Class Alexander Dunbar supervises the placement of complex engi- Knapp says he a bridge secon by Afghan Army Engineers Feb. 23 at the CFC. neering tasks, takes pride including vercal construcon, “when they [the ANA] push us from the Specialty Kandak up clined,” Triolo connued. “They bridging, and water well drilling. out of the way and take charge and down the chain; from the currently need 100% guidance to Beginning in January 2014, of the bridge operaons.