EL CAMPO, TEXAS - With hurricane season upon us, the mission and critical skills recently obtained by Texas National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 551st Multi-Role Bridge Company, 386th Engineer Battalion, 176th Engineer Brigade has taken a much greater importance.
New equipment consisting of boats, bays, and trucks forming a fully functional bridge unit is the first of its kind for the Texas Guard since the mid-90s.
Although much training is still required and equipment slotted for the unit is still years away, engineers are taking steps forward to become an operational bridge unit able to assist in defense support of civil authorities missions.
With the arrival of the new equipment, about 20 Soldiers embarked on 28 days of operator new equipment training and field level maintenance new equipment training in June at Fort Hood, Texas.
“We hope the training will allow soldiers to gain the necessary skills to take equipment and employ their skills whether in combat or disaster relief expeditiously and safely,” said Darryl A. Glanders, military instructor and technical advisor with a civilian mobility company. “This is only the second time that we have had to cross train a stand up unit.”
The process to train Soldiers on the new equipment consisted of licensing on a common bridge transporter and licensing, emplacement and recovery of the bridge erection boat.
Culminating in a final test in which the unit successfully validated on the proper emplacement, recovery, and connection of the improved ribbon bridge bays.
“We hope they gain appreciation for what this equipment does and how they are going to use it having the tools and knowledge and bringing it all together,” said Lewis Trivett, military instructor and representative for Tank Automotive Command, Life Management Command.
“I’m pretty confident I could put everything together and teach my peers what I have learned,” said Army Spc. Marquis Hammett a bridge crewmember with 551st MRBC.
Aside from taking their learned skills back to the rest of their unit members, many of the soldiers understand the overall humanitarian benefits to their vital mission.
“My family got hit with Hurricane Ike when I was 16 and I felt helpless because I couldn’t do anything,” said, Army Spc. Ryan Sherman, a bridge crewman with 551st MRBC.
Sherman added, “I am honored to help and support; now my skills will be able to help others.”