Story by Sgt. Sandra Fariss, 206th Engineer Battalion, Unit Public Affairs Historian Representative
[caption id="attachment_11087" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Kentucky Guardsmen Spc. Jacob Reckner, Spc. Jacob Stamps and Pvt. Dustin Girtin of the 1123rd Sapper Company, measure boards for flooring during an overseas deployment training mission at Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Nov. 1. (Photo by Spc. Stacy Shelton, 1123rd Sapper Company)"]
NOTE: Each week kentuckyguard.com publishes stories by Kentucky National Guard unit public affairs historian representatives, also known as UPAHRs. This is an additional duty taken on by a Soldier or Airmen with the intent of telling their unit’s story. This is one such story ….
HOHENFELS, Germany -- Kentucky Guardsmen of the 1123
rd Sapper Company take their engineer skills overseas for their annual training in Hohenfels, Germany, Oct. 22 through Nov. 11.
In southern Germany they took on the tasks of building B-Huts from the ground up, refurbishing existing structures, built concrete block walls and installed electrical wiring before the harsh winter months.
The construction mission they tackled would present a challenge since their expertise is in demo, obstacle emplacement and reduction as well as mobility and counter-mobility operations.
“Once again my Soldiers have proven that if asked, they can build it," said 1st Sgt. Shane D. Parrott, 1123
rdSapper Company. "What Sappers really like is knocking things down, we will wait till the next mission for that.”
[caption id="attachment_11089" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Kentucky Guardsmen of the 1123rd Sapper Company assemble a B-Hut during an overseas deployment training mission at Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Nov 2. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Raker, 1123rd Sapper Company)"]
The mission of the 1123
rd Sapper Company was to construct a block perimeter wall to control access to a Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) operational and storage facility. Site preparation began immediately upon arrival, moving and installing over 1900 blocks weighing 45 pounds each at the STOL site.
They also constructed a B-Hut in Combat Outpost Antleburg on the western side of the base and refurbished existing structures at the Enslwang Military Operations Urban Terrain (MOUT) site facility in Hohenfels, Germany.
In less than 2 weeks time, the engineers had constructed a sturdy 20 feet by 30 feet building completely out of several stacks of wood and metal. They had to construct every part of the building from the trusses to the walls to the doors. Even though many Soldiers worked outside their MOS, the soldiers stayed highly motivated by learning a new trade.