‘A strong defense’ — 15th Engineer Company Soldiers hone combat skills at field exercise

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Soldiers from 15th Engineer Company, 19th Engineer Battalion, packed up their bags and equipment March 28 and traveled to the field.

Leaders this week said they decided to have their Soldiers put down their garrison equipment and pick up their combat gear to hone skill sets they will need during deployments. Though the unit is not slated to attend a rotation at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California anytime soon, they want to be ready if they are called on to go.

Part of the 24-hour field training exercise, which they conducted March 29-30, included sleep management schedules so they could safely conduct an all-night mission when needed. The exercise included digging defensive fighting positions. Sticky March mud posed some real-world challenges.