Construction begins for Prime Power course

By Mrs. Melissa K Buckley (Leonard Wood)June 19, 2014

Construction begins for Prime Power course
Keith Garrett and 1st Lt. Daniel Thomas, 232nd Engineer Company, 94th Engineer Battalion, watch as gravel is poured one of the roads being restored. The roads have to be able to support the vehicles, such as bucket trucks, the lineman will be learnin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Construction crews are working on a new training area around the U.S. Army Prime Power School building -- the home of the new Power Line Distribution Course-U4.

"The U.S. military's demand for modernized electrical grids and more reliable electricity has increased, which in turn has increased the 249th Engineer Battalion's (Prime Power) role in providing expertise of electrical distribution systems in support of military operations worldwide and the National Response Framework," according to a PLDC-U4 project official.

Soldiers with the military occupational specialty of 12P-Prime Power Production Specialist and 12Q-Power Distribution Specialist, already come to Fort Leonard Wood's Prime Power School for their year-long training.

"All 12Ps are charged with performing power plant operations and operator maintenance duties, but 12P Soldiers potentially may obtain the Additional Skill Identifier of U4-Power Line Distribution Specialist after being assigned to their first duty station," said Sgt. 1st Class Rustin "Nemo" Owen, Power Line Distribution Course small group leader. "12Q provides the Army with the ability to distribute power over long distances from the power source."

Both of these MOSs fall under the 249th Engineer Battalion, which is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Power Line Distribution Specialist, ASI U4, is currently conducted at the Air Force's Electrical Systems Course at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

Starting in January 2015, selected Soldiers will be able to get their lineman ASI by staying on Fort Leonard Wood an additional 8 weeks.

"At first, this course will be just for the 12Ps to obtain the ASI U4, but in the future it will also be used in conjunction with another course to be the MOS course for the 12Qs," Owen said.

According to 1st Lt. Daniel Thomas, 232nd Engineer Company, 94th Engineer Battalion, when completed the new course will provide three courses each year; certifying 24 Prime Power Soldiers.

"That means an average cost savings of $147,600 each year in comparison to training at the Sheppard Air Force Base course," Thomas said.

Owen said it's taken a long time to bring the PLDC-U4 Course to Fort Leonard Wood.

"It's taken four years to convince people that this small MOS is worth it," Owen said. "By having this school on Fort Leonard Wood it will save money. Instead of paying for them to go to Sheppard Air Force Base, they Soldiers that are selected for the PLDC-U4 Course will stay here and continue training. The will roll out of here fully trained."

Soldiers from the 232nd Engineer Company, 94th Engineer Battalion started working on the training area in May.

"Right now, the construction guys out there are doing all the dirt work to prep the area. They are extending culverts and making roadways. Their deadline is June 30," Owen said. "Then, the 249th Engineer Battalion will be sending 12Qs at the end of July to install utility poles and all the training hardware that goes on them."

Thomas said to complete the training area his crews will use 3,749 tons of rock and soil, 1,600 feet of silt fence and 140 feet of culverts.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood