52nd Engineers step for Carson construction projects

By Susan C. Galentine, Fort Carson Directorate of Public WorksSeptember 10, 2010

52nd Engineers step for Carson construction projects
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo.-A mutually-beneficial partnership is underway between the 52nd Engineer Battalion and the Directorate of Public Works.

A Troop Construction Program has been established to accomplish installation construction projects, save the Army money and provide the engineers with opportunities to improve their engineering skills.

Construction projects are hand-picked by the bimonthly Engineer Support Planning Board attended by representatives from the DPW and the 52nd. The unit then provides the Soldiers, equipment and expertise to complete the work. Troop Construction Program staff supports projects by purchasing the necessary building materials and providing oversight and their institutional knowledge of building codes, regulations and design requirements.

The DPW Troop Construction Program, targeted toward training Soldiers on minor unit-level repairs, was last able to capitalize on 52nd Eng. Bn. support four years ago before the unit left Fort Carson. Tony Haag, DPW troop construction officer, has worked side-by-side with the unit since early summer.

Soldiers gain valuable on-the-job experience through these projects.

"Our Soldiers get hands-on training in their construction tasks that are hard to replicate except when deployed. These training opportunities allow them to become proficient in these tasks before they're asked to do them in combat," said Lt. Col. Michael Brooks, the 52nd Eng., Bn. commander.

The 52nd has three construction companies comprised of: earthmoving equipment operators; carpenters, electricians, masons and plumbers; concrete specialists; and two engineer detachments with engineer design technicians and surveyors, according to Capt. Seth Chappell, 52nd Engineer Battalion operations officer for construction. During deployments, their mission consists of constructing airfields, roads, forward operating bases and other projects in theater.

One of the more high-profile projects the construction specialists of the unit are working on is the Tactical Combat Casualty Care training lane at the Medical Simulation Training Center across the street from the Outdoor Recreation Center on Specker Avenue.

The TC3 lane, a Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security training area, is designed to enhance the training of Soldiers undergoing the combat lifesaver course, as well for unit combat medics undergoing their annual refresher training, said Doug Brimmer, DPTMS action officer for the project. Construction is expected to be completed in early September, even though some portions of the TC3 lane are already in use.

The area's footprint includes four moveable military operations on urban terrain, or MMOUT, structures to train them on extracting potential casualties encountered during combat, an observation tower, masonry walled courtyards, a trench line, tunnel and tangle foot obstacle, said Chappell.

Approximately 3,000 Soldiers are anticipated to use the MSTC complex in the next year, said Tim Olsen, DPTMS MSTC site lead.

Brimmer estimates Fort Carson saved $50k in labor cost avoidance over contracting out the work entirely. Building materials and equipment came from the DPW, DPTMS and with some in-kind bartering from the military, to include an old helicopter and Humvees, said Olsen.

"Doing projects in garrison on behalf of the post and post tenants saves the Army money it would otherwise cost to pay a contractor to do the same work, enables our Soldiers to become proficient with their equipment, and exposes our junior leaders to some of the construction challenges they can face overseas," said Chappell.

Haag is already eyeing future projects for the new engineers when all the battalion's companies are stood up this fall, include interior remodeling, small building projects, electrical, tank trail maintenance and range construction.

"We in the DPW certainly appreciate the 52nd's willingness to tackle high priority construction projects. It saves us funding and provides a great service to the installation," said Hal Alguire, DPW director. "This program is a great example of how all on the installation really work to make Fort Carson the 'Best Hometown in the Army.'"