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Combat engineers construct outpost

US Marine Corps News

4/29/2010
By Lance Cpl. Antwain J. Graham, Marine Corps Bases Japan

Marines with Company A, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, completed construction of a combat outpost as part of their pre-deployment training at the Central Training Area April 20.

During construction, Marines camped out at the site where they set up Hercules Engineering Solutions Consortium barriers, as a protective perimeter; huts, used to house the Marines; and a watch tower to post security above the outpost to keep a lookout for approaching threats.

“The purpose of building the outpost was to give the Marines hands-on training with the jobs they will be doing when they deploy,” said 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Stroud, platoon commander.

Combat engineers from the unit will deploy to Afghanistan later this year.

For some who hadn’t deployed, like combat engineer Pfc. Marvin Lopez, the training was more beneficial.

“I had no idea how to build a hut or a tower before this,” Lopez said. “I think now, after the construction, I’ve really got a handle on my job, and I know we’re going to be ready for the deployment.”

Bulk fuel specialist Pfc. Mark Evert, newly arrived to Okinawa, agreed this was a good training experience.

“It was really good for me, a lot of experience, a lot of hands on” doing the job, Evert said.

The bulk fuel specialists ran an expeditionary refueling site for refueling all of Company A’s motorized equipment as well as generators.

According to some experienced engineers, constructing a COP like this is rare outside of a combat zone.

“We don’t usually get to conduct this kind of training, so it’s great the junior Marines can get the experience under their belts,” said squad leader Sgt. Richard Hill.

Even with the skills exercised and the accomplishment of creating something where there was only empty space before, many of the Marines said the best part of the experience was simply the bond it created.

“In a garrison environment, we are always moving around and don’t really see each other,” said Lopez. “Being out here together has brought us all significantly closer to one another. This will benefit us when we deploy, because it will make it easier to work together and get things done.”