SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - As the morning sun broke over the horizon to light up the Kole Kole Pass, Command Sgt. Maj. Lauro Obeada, the 130th Engineer Brigade command sergeant major, yelled "Fall in!" to more than 2,000 high-spirited participants, kicking off the 2015 Engineer Regiment Muster Run here June 19.
Joined by distinguished guests, Soldiers from numerous engineer units, families and pets, 130th Engineer Brigade Commander Col. Blace Albert led the formation run for more than two and a half miles through Area X-Ray.
The Army Engineer Regiment Muster Run traces back to Lt. Gen. Robert B. Flowers, the 50th chief of engineers.
The chief engineer for the Army dates as early as June 16, 1775, when Gen. George Washington appointed Col. Richard Gridley as chief engineer of the Continental Army.
The two purposes for the Army Engineer Regimental Muster program are to establish a standard annual ritual for recognizing excellence among the members of the Army Engineer Regiment and to collect and maintain the total number of individuals in the regiment by creating the Regimental Rolls name listing and Muster Card documentation program.
Before the run, the formation stood in silence to pay tribute and to honor to the fallen Engineers of the 130th Engineer Brigade while Taps was played.
The route had multiple stations to run through including simulated gun fire, 9-line Medical Evacuation (medevac), a water arch from two fire trucks and a live re-enlistment.
When asked about his favorite part, Toni Obeada, Command Sgt. Maj. Obeada's 7-year-old son, said, "Being able to lead the run and finishing without stopping!"
Soldiers of the 130th Engineer Brigade, in true historic uniforms, performed a skit marking the history of the Engineers from the Revolutionary War to Operation Enduring Freedom.
Engineer Soldiers have played a significant role in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and OEF.
As such, many engineer lives have been sacrificed.
After the run, Albert issued all of the Soldiers in attendance an Engineer Regimental Muster card. The one-time Muster Card will be issued as a permanent record of registration to the Regimental Rolls.
Albert told the formation, "Keep these cards with you, they are registered with Human Resources Command, and your name is registered marking your place in history for having joined the Engineer Corps in a Muster Run".
The formal portion of the event concluded with an Army Engineer birthday cake cutting ceremony.
Albert was joined by Maj. Gen. Edward F. Dorman, commanding general of 8th TSC, and the U.S Army Pacific Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year, Sgt. Michael Hooks and Spc. Jonathan Renteria, both from 130th Engineer Brigade.
The crew raised a sword to slice the cake when Albert shouted, "Wait! This isn't how engineers cut cake!" and disappeared behind stage.
He reappeared brandishing a Husqvarna chainsaw on full throttle and commenced to cut the cake for the brigade.
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