Germany: National Guard engineers take on challenge to build up instead of tear down

By Army Sgt. Sandra Fariss
Kentucky National Guard

Kentucky Guard members of the 1123rd Sapper Company assemble a B-Hut, or temporary barracks, during an overseas deployment training mission at Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Nov 2, 2011. (Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Raker) (Released)
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HOHENFELS, Germany (11/30/11) – Kentucky Guard members of the 1123rd Sapper Company take their engineer skills overseas for their annual training here, Oct. 22 through Nov. 11.

In southern Germany they took on the tasks of building B-Huts, temporary barracks, from the ground up; refurbishing existing structures; building concrete block walls and installing electrical wiring before the upcoming winter season.

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 Army 1st Sgt. Shane D. Parrott, 1123rdSapper Company. "What Sappers really like is knocking things down, we will wait till the next mission for that.”

The mission of the 1123rd Sapper Company was to construct a block perimeter wall to control access to a Short Take Off and Landing 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 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.

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