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
  Overseas Operations
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 New York Airmen, Soldiers maximize time in Germany for lasting impact By Sgt. 1st Class Raymond  Drumsta
                New York National Guard
 HOHENFELS, Germany - New York National Guard engineer troops raised walls and standards during their three-week annual training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany in March. Originally assigned to construct one multi-use building in the training area, 80 Soldiers of the 1156th Engineer Company literally built above and beyond, raising two buildings and wiring them to boot. The engineer Soldiers, along with two Airmen from the New York Air National Guard, went to Hohenfels as part of a Troop Construction Program. The TCP leadership at Hohenfels was so pleased at what the New York engineer troops accomplished they asked them to return every year, according to Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Smith, the 1156th Engineer Company readiness noncommissioned officer. "No unit that's ever been there has ever done more than one building, or completed one building," said Capt. Dan Colomb, the officer-in-charge of the mission. Some of the Soldiers also inventoried, re-organized and cleaned a construction and supply yard, he added. The 204th Engineer Battalion has many new troops who have just completed their Military Occupational Skill training, said Smith. Normal annual training doesn't offer the chance to work on longer-term projects, he added. The Troop Construction Program gives engineer troops a chance to work on construction projects at military installations. Smith explained that Col. James Freehart, the 204th Engineer Battalion commander, asked for the mission so the engineer Soldiers could apply their training on a such a project, gain practical experience, see the results and appreciate their skills. Smith described it as "MOS time." "This was a perfect opportunity to get that time on a project," Smith said. The mission was to build a 50 by 20-foot cinder block building with a European tile roof, said Colomb, of Niskayuna, N.Y. He and another officer did some reconnaissance before the mission, toured the site where the Concrete Block and Mortar Unit (CMU) was to be built, and met with TCP personnel. That's when they saw a chance to raise the bar, Colomb said. "We said, 'we have 80 people, we gotta have more work,'" Colomb recalled. From there it was on, according to Colomb. "[The TCP personnel] had bets as to whether we'd finish it," Colomb said. The troops rose to the challenge, working most days from 7:30 a.m. to about 5:30 p.m., he added. Though it was a very ambitious timeline, the projects stayed on track, Smith said. Troops often returned to the worksites and worked at late as 10 p.m., Smith and Colomb recalled. "We stayed late to keep the projects on schedule," Smith said. "The guys put in a lot of outstanding effort." Some of troops, who are trained as plumbers or electricians, got a chance to do masonry and carpentry work, he added. The extra effort paid off, and they actually finished ahead of schedule, Colomb said. "We still had time to install the [wiring] in both units," Colomb said. Along with designing and fabricating window parts, the troops installed lights, switches and outlets, so the buildings are ready to use, he added. Troops training in the area can utilize the buildings for a number of things, like shelters or tactical operation centers, Colomb said. "It's a pretty big deal that we built two buildings, and did the tiling and electrical on those buildings," he said. The engineer Soldiers also ran their own motor pool and conducted driver training, Colomb said. But the troops who worked at the construction and supply yard "knocked it out of the park," he stressed. The yard had lacked a supply non-commissioned officer for some time, Colomb explained. During their inventory of the area, the Soldiers found and fixed several power tools that had been tagged for turn in, which should lead to some cost-savings, he added. The training and experience was invaluable, according to Smith. What's more, the engineer troops made a lasting, practical impact, and the results speak for themselves, he added. "Soldiers are going to live in these buildings, train in them and use them," Smith said. "They're not going to just sit there."
 SHARE
 PRINT
 NY National Guard Strengthens Bonds with Allies in Morocco Overseas Operations • 6 days ago
 Alaska Guard Soldiers Honored Before Middle East Deployment Overseas Operations • 13 days ago
 29th Infantry Division HQ Heads Exercise Immediate Response Overseas Operations • 18 days ago
 134th Medical Company Joins Combined Resolve Exercise Overseas Operations • 19 days ago
 Guard Soldiers, Czech Partners Celebrate Victory in Europe Day Overseas Operations • 21 days ago
 2024 (24)  2023 (57)  2022 (71)  2021 (58)  2020 (41)  2019 (56)  2018 (55)  2017 (46)  2016 (31)  2015 (36)  2014 (48)  2013 (64)  2012 (134)  2011 (163)  2010 (179)
 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