• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Engineers prepare for Global Response Force

March 9, 2012

By Sgt. Dustin Gautney, 2HBCT Public Affairs

FORT STEWART, Ga. -- Soldiers from the 92nd Engineer Battalion have begun training in preparation to take on their role as an Infantry Unit for the nation's Global Response Force.

The Global Response Force is a military force in readiness, able to deploy at a moment's notice to anyway in the world within 72 hours. For the Soldiers of the 92nd Engineer Battalion, this has meant changing from their primary role as construction engineers into basic infantrymen, according to First Sgt. Nathaniel Atkinson, 984th Co., 92nd Eng. Bn.

"It is a challenging role to fill, but that is why we are training to ensure our Soldiers are more than up to the task," said First Sgt. Atkinson.

During the next following months the "Black Diamond" Soldiers will continually train as infantry Soldiers, using multiple field exercises to practice reconnaissance, land navigation, weapons skills, react to fire drills and media escorting. While this might seem as a distraction from the 92nd Engineer's primary task as a construction battalion, First Sgt. Atkinson says that it only enhances the Soldiers.

"Even though we are engineers, adding the skill sets from the infantry training is just another great asset for all of the Soldiers to have. However, we will continue to hone our engineering skills along with the infantry training," First Sgt. Atkinson said.

Captain Kris Haley, commander, 984th Co., 92nd Eng., agreed the opportunity to train in infantry tactics for their upcoming assignment as the east coast Global Response Force has been a great experience for himself and his Soldiers.

"The training has really helped hone every ones infantry skills, and really a great experience for all of us to increase our overall skill sets. It really is an honor for us to be chosen to fulfill this role as part of the Global Response Force and one that we are prepared to meet any task we must assume," Capt. Haley said.