Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 National Guard makes connections at Fort Polk By Angie Thorne
                Fort Polk Guardian
 Making connections, whether physical or abstract, can be an important aspect of problem solving. Fort Polk, Louisiana, has achieved just such a connection through its long-standing relationship with the Louisiana National Guard. The Guard signed on for several engineering and construction jobs on and around Fort Polk. That association has led to a physical connection by way of two bridges to create access between post and the Castor Training Area. Col. Bill Bartheld, senior National Guard advisor to Brig. Gen. James C. Yarbrough, commander, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, explained how the connection between the National Guard and Fort Polk came about. "We put a team of National Guard Soldiers together and they have been working on this and several other projects on post. They come from all over the state to work on special duty orders and support the Joint Readiness Training Center. The Guard Bureau gave us some money to bring on support Soldiers at Ops Group and wherever they were needed," said Bartheld. National Guardsman Lt. Josh Howell is the officer in charge of the Guardsmen doing the work. "We were tasked to build this bridge in the Castor Training Area. Our job is to make the training area accessible to Soldiers," said Howell. Bartheld said this project is something that should have been done a long time ago. "Along with the garrison G-3, we saw the need to put in these bridges because they provide an avenue so that Soldiers don't have to go off post to get here," said Bartheld. According to Howell, there have been delays while working on the bridge. "We are excited to get this far along because other missions and hurricanes (Gustav and Ike) have slowed us down. We built the forms for the first bridge before the hurricane came, so we had to put a halt on construction for a while, but now the first bridge is in place. We just have to put the decking on it," said Howell. National Guardsman, Sgt. Chad Lisenby, 1022nd Engineer Company (Vertical), 527th Engineer Battalion, Monroe, La., has been working on this and other projects for about two months. "We've been doing dirt work, building and setting forms and getting the bridges ready to pour concrete." The Guardsmen were scheduled to pour concrete at the second bridge on Oct. 28, but only in the form on the right side of the creek. They won't be able to reach the form on the left side until the first bridge is complete. "We placed about six yards of concrete into the wood forms," said Howell. Howell is enthusiastic about the work his team is doing. "This is a good training experience and gives us a chance to be full-time Guardsmen. It's a good deal for the post because they reap the benefits of getting smaller projects done that maybe a contractor wouldn't want to come in here and tackle. This is a chance for Guardsman to show off what we can do," said Howell. National Guardsman, Spc. Brandon Odom, 1020th Engineer Company (Vertical), 527th Engineer Battalion, Pineville, La., said he couldn't wait to see the bridges finished. "It feels good to do something that helps the Soldiers," said Odom. Howell said the bridges are in the completion phase. "Barring any challenges, we should be finished in about two weeks," said Howell. Other projects the Guardsmen have completed include work for Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation at Toledo Bend. "We cleared some woods, did some drainage and ditch work and spread 187 tons of sand on the beach," said Howell. Once the bridges are finished, these Soldiers have even more projects to begin. "One of the next things we are going to do is clear 28 acres for a hideaway drop zone. It should take us a month and a half to two months to finish," said Howell. According to Bartheld, no matter what project the Guardsmen work on next, they have built more than bridges and buildings. Through hard work and camaraderie they continue forgeing a successful connection to Fort Polk.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  NY Army Guard Band Performs for Netherlands King and Queen
 By Eric Durr,
  More
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 3 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 3 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 National Guard, US Army North, FEMA Train for Hurricane Response Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (195)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil