Posted on 08/04/2005 5:08:00 PM PDT by SandRat
MARINE CORPS BASE TERNATE, BARANGAY SAPANG TERNATE, CAVITE, Philippines (Aug. 5, 2005) -- More than 50 Marines deployed in support of Philippine Interoperability Exercise 2005 turned a dirt path into a durable gravel road during a bilateral relations project June 28 to July 16.
Marines from Engineer Support Company reinforced, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group, built up the kilometer-long path leading to the Naval Reserve Command Training Center. Marines repaired existing water drainage systems and created new ones where necessary.
“The previous road that was basically a mud path,” said Sgt. Chris Eastman, project senior combat engineer, Combat Service Support Group-3, 3rd FSSG in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. “After it rained, the mud would sponge up the water, and the large military vehicles would impress tracks into the road that served as water pockets, which kept the road from ever drying up.” The Marines laid Geo-textile matting, a thick, watertight compound, over the road before pouring the gravel to keep the mud from mulching with the gravel. The matting helps disperse the weight of vehicles on the road so the gravel does not shift easily after prolonged usage, Eastman explained.
The engineers also used more than 120 pounds of TNT to loosen the foundation of portions of the road where necessary.
“Using demolition as an aid to dig out the ditches provided a real-world opportunity for the combat engineers to perform an important part of their job,” Eastman said. “It worked out exactly as we wanted it to, and it gave them a means to do a full-on construction project that included digging, demolition, and other aspects of construction that they may not be able to do back home.”
Some Marines had the opportunity to operate earth-moving machinery they wouldn’t use outside of deployments.
“Most of the training back home is for preparation and maintenance of heavy equipment,” said Lance Cpl. Jason C. Ober, a heavy equipment operator with 9th Engineer Support Battalion. “Here we get to push some dirt around and really get into what our work entails. It’s a great learning experience for me and lets me become more confident in my skills, which in turn makes me a better, more efficient Marine.”
Philippine Interoperability Exercise 2005 took place July 1-18 to improve interoperability between U.S. and Philippine Marines and maintain relations with the Philippines.
MARINE PING
I suppose it promotes good will, & I do love the troops,
but -- let's keep the subsidies at home where they belong.
(as a TAX CUT)
BTTT!!!!!!
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