Building bridges
Army engineers build bridges and community spirit with Lennox Island
Snowmobilers will have no issues when travelling the trails of Lennox Island First Nation this winter, thanks to soldiers of the 4 Engineer Support Regiment.
As part of the NIHILO SAPPER 2018 exercise, the Horizontal Construction Squadron specializing in roads and bridges set up their satellite camp on Lennox Island Saturday. They plan to repair
and rebuild damaged walkways in the next two weeks.
“We’re building a satellite camp, which allows my troops (44 people under my command) to gain valuable training in camp
building and engineering construction, as well as provide the service of improving the trail system on Lennox Island,” said Lieutenant Jim Ryan.
“I have a priority of tasks that include getting our camp established, so that we have a living and working area, and then we will begin improving the walkway system.” Walkways will be widened, for easy maintenance throughout the year by community members, and two severely damaged crossings will be torn down and replaced with two new non-standard bridges.
“Today we will meet with some members of Lennox Island to walk through the site and confirm exactly where we want everything set up and once our camp is 100 per cent completed, construction will begin.”
The hands-on technical training ensures members of the Immediate Response Unit can pack-up and be deployed within a period of 12-hours if a disaster strikes in Atlantic Canada. And the Disaster Assistance Response Team can be deployed internationally within 24-hours.
“This unit is an engineer support unit. These are the teams that build and maintain facilities that are used for operations around the world,” explained Capt. Jamie Tobin, the public affairs officer for the exercise.
Engineers are the first in and the first out of a site.
“Latvia is currently a major point of focus. Troops are deployed there to stage multi-national operations and training in support of Operation REASSURANCE,” said Tobin. “They also built a facility in Mali (West Africa) used to assemble an aircraft for that project, so this training is used around the world.”
He continued, “P.E.I. has created a great operating and training environment. They have welcomed us with open arms, and we needed to build partnerships with these communities and it’s a great co-operative relationship.” Ryan concluded, “It gets us away from the familiar training based out of Gagetown, N.B. It’s such an added value, especially out here working with Lennox Island. They have been so supportive to allow us on their sacred ground.”
The squadron will be on Lennox Island up until Wednesday, Nov. 21.