Story by: 1st Lt. Casey Kilpatrick, 561st Engineer Company, 84th Engineer Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command
MARINE CORPS BASE, Hawaii - Troops from the 561st Engineer Company (Horizontal), 84th Engineer Battalion, demonstrated their commitment to all military facilities on the island by completing a 750-meter range road improvement mission Dec. 17, on Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
The project re-established a combat tactical vehicle trail that leads to a range used for demolition training and increased the engineer troops confidence and project management skills in establishing construction tactics, techniques and procedures.
The company's 1st Platoon "Renegades," assisted by the battalion's 643rd Engineer Company (Vertical), completed the mission in just 42 days.
Each squad played a vital role. First and third squads installed 16-foot culverts, covered channels allowing water to run under the trail, supported by headwalls at their outlets, while second squad emplaced a soil stabilization load support system in low water crossing areas of the trail.
Sgt. Joshua Hurst, a 643rd leader working on the project, said it was a great opportunity for the troops to help other Oahu installations and gain experience.
Sgt. First Class Daniel Jaques oversaw all three parts of the mission and said, "The squad leaders learned what their strengths and weaknesses were in their different approaches to managing their specific project site."
The final product is a drastically improved trail that can withstand the necessary traffic and enable critical training on the base, while also serving as an example for future combat trail missions throughout the island.
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