555th Engineer Brigade ( United States ) The 555th Engineer Brigade is a combat engineer brigade of the United States Army based at Joint Base Lewis - McChord , Washington . The brigade is a subordinate unit of 7th Infantry Division , I Corps . History . Activation through World War II ( February 1943 to May 1946 ) The 555th Engineer Brigade was first constituted 1 February 1943 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 1103d Engineer Combat Group and activated 25 February 1943 at Fort Devens , Massachusetts . Intensive unit training at Fort Devens culminated in an exercise at the West Virginia Maneuver Area in October through December 1943 . In late December 1943 , the 1103d sailed for England after completing overseas processing at Camp Kilmer , New Jersey . The unit landed in Liverpool in January 1944 , and proceeded to Henley - on - Thames where they trained on bridging operations until the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 . While assigned to the First Army , the 1103d crossed the English Channel during the period of 20 to 22 June 1944 . The 1103d earned its first of five campaign streamer s during the Normandy Invasion , clearing and maintaining supply routes at Omaha and Utah beach es . In August 1944 , the 1103d was transferred to General George S . Patton ’ s Third Army . Throughout the fall of 1944 , the 1103d protected captured bridges on the Loire River , bridged the Moselle River , and breached the massive and cubicled Metz forts for the assaulting forces . During these engagements , the 1103d earned two additional campaign streamers for the Northern France and Ardennes - Alsace Campaigns . In February 1945 , the 1103rd supported the Ninth Army in the Ruhr cleanup on the northern sector . Here they earned a fourth streamer in support of the Rhineland Campaign . The unit then proceeded across the Rhineland with XVIII Airborne Corps for the remainder of the war , earning a fifth campaign streamer in support of the Central European Campaign . The 1103d Engineer Combat Group was inactivated 8 May 1946 and reactivated 20 January 1947 at Rüsselsheim , Germany . On 5 March 1947 , it was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment , 555th Composite Service Group . On 7 March 1949 , it was further redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment , 555th Engineer Combat Group and allotted to the Regular Army on 16 February 1951 . Finally , on 1 April 1953 , it was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 555th Engineer Group ( Combat ) . Subunits of the 1103d during this period included 150th Engineer Combat Battalion , 160th Engineer Combat Battalion , 204th Engineer Combat Battalion , 206th Engineer Combat Battalion , 551st Engineer Heavy Pontoon Battalion , 989th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company , 537th Engineer Light Pontoon Company and 623d Engineer Light Equipment Company . The 1103d was inactivated on 8 May 1946 in Germany . Post World War II in Germany ( January 1947 to June 1969 ) Between 1947 and 1969 , the unit served at Rüsselsheim , Kaufbeuren , Ettlingen , and Karlsruhe , Germany as it contributed to the defense of western Europe during the Cold War . During this period it was reorganized and redesignated multiple times . On 20 January 1947 , the 1103d was activated again at Russelheim , Germany . On 5 March 1947 , the 1103d was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment , 555th Composite Service Group . Two years later , on 7 March 1949 , it was redesignated and reorganized as Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 555th Engineer Combat Group . On 9 August 1950 the Group moved from Russelheim to Kaufbeuren , and seven months later to Rhineland Kaserne in Ettlingen . In October 1952 , the unit moved once again , this time to Phillips Barracks , Karlsruhe . On 1 April 1953 , the 555th Engineer Combat Group was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 555th Engineer Group . While in Europe , the 555th was responsible for providing engineer support to 7th Army , including obstacle construction , route maintenance , and tactical bridging . One of their most important missions while in Germany was maintaining and operating prefabricated Class 60 float bridges along the Rhine River that were known as “ swing bridge s . ” The prefabricated bridges consisted of two pre - assembled spans , one on each shore of the river , that could be “ swung ” across the river and connected in less than 15 minutes if required . The bridges were usually left open to allow commercial river traffic to travel unimpeded along the Rhine . On 11 August 1955 , two C - 119 Flying Boxcar s with 56 Soldiers from the 499th Engineer Battalion , 555th Engineer Group collided in midair over the Black Forest near the village of Edelweiler , Germany . All personnel on both planes were killed , to include the 499th Engineer Battalion Commander . At the time , it was the U . S . Army ’ s worst post - war disaster in Europe . Principal units assigned to the 555th during this time period consisted of the 499th Combat Engineer Battalion ( Combat ) , 78th Engineer Combat Battalion , the 55th Engineer Company ( Panel Bridge ) , the 502nd Engineer Company ( Pontoon Bridge ) , the 809th Engineer Company ( Panel Bridge ) , the 11th Labor Service District Headquarters , the 6961st Civilian Labor Group , and the 44th Finance Dispensation Section . On 17 January 1967 , the unit moved one more time , to Smiley Barracks in Karlsruhe . Finally , on 25 June 1969 , the 555th was inactivated . Personnel and equipment from the group joined with the 540th Engineer Group to form the 7th Engineer Brigade ( VII Corps ) . Activation at Fort Lewis , Washington to Operation Iraqi Freedom ( January 1992 to April 2003 ) The 555th Combat Engineer Group was reactivated at Fort Lewis , Washington on 16 January 1992 . The group began forming in August 1991 with a nucleus of soldiers from the inactivating 15th Combat Engineer Battalion , 9th Infantry Division ( Motorized ) . The arrival of the 7th Engineer Brigade soldiers and equipment in October and December 1991 completed the group organization . The 864th Engineer Battalion ( Combat Heavy ) and the 73rd Engineer Company ( Assault Ribbon Bridge ) were the first units assigned to the Group on 16 November 1991 . The 87th Engineer Detachment ( Fire Fighters ) and the 54th Engineer Detachment ( Topographic ) were assigned on 16 January 1992 . The 14th Engineer Battalion ( Corps ) ( Wheeled ) moved from Fort Ord , CA to Fort Lewis upon closure of Fort Ord and joined the group on 16 October 1993 . The unit conducted rigorous training at Fort Lewis during the decade following its activation in Washington . Other notable missions included short - notice deployments to Yakima Training Center and Idaho to fight fires , training at the Joint Readiness Training Center and National Training Center , and support to training evaluations of Army reserve units . Brigade units also deployed numerous times in support of construction missions throughout this period . The missions included deployments to Thailand ( Exercise Cobra Gold ) , Texas ( Joint Task Force 6 ) , Haiti , and Alaska . The 555th also participated in numerous construction projects in and around Fort Lewis , Washington . These projects included road repair and upgrades , culvert installation , and construction of bridges and demolition bunkers . In the mid - 1990s , the 555th partnered with the Engineer Research and Development Center ( ERDC ) in Vicksburg , Mississippi . They tested gear and equipment that was being created for desert and field environments , including Hesco bastion s and Sand Grids . Operation Iraqi Freedom ( April 2003 to September 2009 ) In January 2003 , the 555th Engineer Group received orders to deploy with the 4th Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) as a member of Task Force Ironhorse to the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility . From April 2003 to March 2004 , the 555th deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom Phase I ( Liberation of Iraq ) and Phase II ( Transition of Iraq ) . Arriving in country on 11 April 2003 , the group was immediately diverted to the seaport in Kuwait where they conducted reception , staging , onward movement , and integration activities in Camp New Jersey , Kuwait . Moving into Iraq in late April , the Group established its Headquarters at Forward Operating Base Speicher , in Tikrit , Iraq . There the Group provided assured mobility , force protection and sustainment engineer operations to all brigades in Task Force Ironhorse . During the deployment , the Group served as the Headquarters of Task Force Able , which consisted of the Group Headquarters , the 5th Combat Engineer Battalion ( Corps ) ( Mechanized ) , the 14th Combat Engineer Battalion , the 223rd Engineer Battalion ( Combat ) ( Heavy ) , the 565th Combat Engineer Battalion ( Provisional ) , the 229th Construction Support Equipment Company , the 285th Construction Support Equipment Company , and the 463rd Firefighting Detachment . Upon returning from deployment , the 555th Engineer Group was provisionally redesignated by U . S . Army Forces Command ( FORSCOM ) as the 555th Combat Support Brigade ( Maneuver Enhancement ) [ CSB ( ME ) ] at Fort Lewis , Washington on 4 October 2004 . Another provisional FORSCOM designation used temporarily from 2004 – 2007 was the “ 555th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade , ” but the unit was better known as a CSB ( ME ) . From October 2005 through September 2006 , the 555th CSB ( ME ) deployed again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom Phase III ( Iraqi Governance ) and Phase IV ( National Resolution ) . As the Divisional Engineer Brigade attached to the 101st Airborne Division ( Air Assault ) in Multinational Division North ( MND - N ) , the unit was headquartered at Tikrit , Iraq . The MND - N area of operation included most of northern Iraq from just north of Taji to the Turkish Border . The major units attached to the 555th during this deployment were the 14th Combat Engineer Battalion ( CEB ) and the 505th Engineer Combat Battalion ( Heavy ) ( North Carolina Army National Guard ) . The 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE ( USAF ) was under the Brigade ’ s Tactical Control ( TACON ) . The principal missions of the 555th were construction , assured mobility ( route clearance ) , coalition munitions clearance , and Iraqi Army Engineer partnership . Route clearance was primarily the mission of the 14th CEB , which conducted patrols around the clock throughout MND - N searching for improvised explosive device s ( IEDs ) on the major routes . The 555th also conducted route sanitation and crater repair missions to eliminate the areas in which IEDs could be hidden . Construction was the primary mission for both the 505th ECB and 557th RED HORSE . The 505th built up several operating bases to house the emerging Iraqi Army . The 557th focused mainly on construction for growing Forward Operating Base s ( FOBs ) to house coalition forces in the future . The 14th CEB ’ s three support platoons led the way in several combined construction partnerships with the Iraqi Army ( IA ) engineers , building FOBs , entry control points , and upgrading several existing structures . Nine months after returning from its second tour in Iraq , on 16 June 2007 , the 555th CSB ( ME ) was reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 555th Engineer Brigade at Fort Lewis , Washington . From September 2008 through September 2009 , the 555th Engineer Brigade deployed for its third tour to Iraq . They participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom Phase V ( Iraqi Surge ) and Phase VI ( Iraqi Sovereignty ) as the Multi - National Corps - Iraq Theater Engineer Brigade . Operating out of Joint Base Balad , the Brigade initially supported the XVIII Airborne Corps , and later I Corps . They orchestrated full spectrum engineer operations for over 3000 Army , Air Force and Navy Engineers . In partnership with Iraqi Army Engineers , the unit maintained assured mobility , conducted tactical construction , increased Iraqi Army capabilities , and enhanced civil capacity development in support of coalition forces and Provincial Reconstruction Team s ( PRTs ) . Three multifunctional Army engineer battalions ( the 5th , 14th , and 54th ) , the 557th RED HORSE , and numerous Air Force and Navy Engineer Detachments rounded out the Triple Nickel Team . In September 2009 , the 555th Engineer Brigade returned to Fort Lewis ( now Joint Base Lewis - McChord ) to reset and prepare for future operations in support of the Global War on Terror . International Security Assistance Force , Afghanistan : Theater Engineer Brigade , " Joint Task Force Triple Nickel " ( 2013 ) In January 2013 , the brigade headquarters deployed to Afghanistan as " Joint Task Force ( JTF ) Triple Nickel " to assume command of the U . S . Theater Engineer Brigade in support of the International Security Assistance Force . The 555th Engineer Brigade became the lead element in a 5 , 000 - strong joint team composed of U . S . Army , Navy , and Air Force engineer units , including elements of the Regular Army , National Guard , and Reserves . JTF Triple Nickel ' s mission during the ongoing deployment has three primary focus areas : First and foremost , the brigade is focused on training and certifying the new Afghan National Army ( ANA ) engineer force . In accordance with the transition to Afghan - led security and governance , JTF Triple Nickel is working to develop independent , effective , sustainable Afghan engineer units that can support security and development needs throughout the country . These units include dozens of ANA route clearance and construction companies , most of which are now operating independently . Above the company level , the ANA is currently fielding several Corps Engineer Kandaks , which are trained and equipped to conduct larger - scale construction , including horizontal projects ( such as building and maintaining roads ) and vertical projects ( such as building , expanding , or hardening military facilities ) . A national - level engineer unit , the Afghan National Engineer Brigade ( NEB ) , is expected to begin operations by this winter ; the NEB will include more specialized engineer capabilities such as steelwork , well - drilling , and bridging . JTF Triple Nickel ' s second focus area is construction and deconstruction on coalition bases , especially for base closures and transfers related to the drawdown of coalition forces . The brigade ' s third focus area is route clearance . Every day throughout Afghanistan , dozens of route clearance units patrol along key roadways to find and eliminate improvised explosive devices emplaced by insurgents . These patrols are intented to protect coalition and Afghan forces and the civilian population . Lineage and Honors . Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 555th Engineer Brigade Organization . The unit is composed of : Under Administrative Control at Joint Base Lewis - McChord :