united_states engineer brigade united_states_army based hawaii provides engineering support command brigade operations brigade traces lineage engineering regiment active world war brigade action mid-1990s cold war brigade stationed western europe decades possible soviet invasion finally saw action operation joint endeavor providing assistance international force bosnia region years later brigade primary engineering component invasion iraq numerous difficulties brigade forced unexpected missions year iraq saw second tour primary engineering component country brigade deployed afghanistan support operation enduring freedom brigade long history supporting based town germany ended brigade relocated hawaii support major restructuring plan army reactivated brigade currently home hawaii organization subordinate unit 8th turn subordinate provides engineering assistance forces stationed pacific_ocean region brigade stationed barracks permanently commands subordinate battalions located barracks total force brigade subordinate elements approximately brigade nature able command control units deployed history origins traces lineage saw action world war regiment activated july camp illinois deployed participated subsequent invasion germany transferred pacific day received campaign asian pacific theatre japan january regiment designated japan july activated september year months later brigade june having seen deployment june designated activated germany consolidation 37th 11th single unit provide efficient command control subsequently command corps army force europe brigade received shoulder sleeve insignia september distinctive unit insignia november brigade members specially designed images regiment battle honors world war scarlet white colors signifying army engineer units brigade remained germany support years seeing deployments underwent units battalions reassigned following end cold war gained new battalions units brigade subordinate battalions deployed support operation operation brigade headquarters remained germany rest operations conducted significant engineer assets early 1990s brigade continue units come command transferred restructuring 18th 7th operation joint december january units brigade deployed croatia support operation joint endeavor deployed surveying platoon following year tasked building assault bridge despite severe flooding conditions river international pressure structure brigade sent units begin work bridge december deployed croatia placed historic ribbon bridge river bridge feet longest assault floating bridge military history company operated hours day months crossing critical traffic support task force eagle nato company assisted construction second bridge section remaining support force restructuring task force eagle construct seven fixed bridges support operation deployment brigade tasked creating maintaining maps area operations produce maps tasked repairing maintaining infrastructure brigade returned germany operation complete train german engineers including german units brigade set competitions german units soldiers chance earn earned soldiers years served germany trained extensively operations rivers germany summer brigade participated joint engineering exercise exercise conducted featured numerous training scenarios construction medical clinic exercises conducted nations europe including albania romania georgia bulgaria macedonia performed annual humanitarian missions poland working community projects country assistance september training exercise operation iraqi freedom mobilized support global war terrorism commanded colonel preparations operation iraqi freedom placed charge largest engineering force theater included seven different engineering battalions separate group company sized elements units brigade deployed kuwait early corps staff provide command assistance crossed border iraq attacked capitol region baghdad south coupled landings north operation forces surround destroy iraqi forces capitol obstacle facing brigade kilometer deep defensive obstacle complex spanned iraq border kuwait consisted large tank ditches dirt electrified fencing razor wire decided brigade combat teams breach locations brigade analyzed provided layout coalition forces conducted actual late march armored combat build roads tracked vehicles armored vehicle launched bridges set wheeled vehicles worked engineers breach places brigade moved starting iraq war combat forces moved brigade sealed prevent iraqi forces leaving open forces followed breach moved iraq provided support divisions advanced path baghdad large grounded aviation large dust clouds problem brigade oil use dust airfields allowing fleet engage iraqi ground forces march retreating iraqi units detonated bridges slow advance conducted rapid repairs allow brigades continue brigade supported combat elements moving clearing roads pathways debris obstacles allow rapid movement city built birthday bridge longest float bridge constructed combat theatre span meters birthday april invasion brigade supposed support operation infrastructure support planning invasion engineers brigade told reconstruction iraq conducted contractors iraqi civilians originally prepared conduct major reconstruction efforts corps commanding element task force rebuild iraq invasion force including sent jobs originally planned basic utilities conditions iraq far expected rest engineers engaged large number initial reconstruction projects basic utilities including schools water treatment plants waste removal nation power grid determined scale projects greater expected encountered previous decided reconstruction essential coalition help win iraqi people brigade completely originally tasked obstacles building fortifications operations brigade tasked entirely construction projects conversion difficult process brigade equipment specialist units designed handle reconstruction national scale military reconstruction units arrived iraq brigade grew battalions groups focused projects specialty ultimately found undertaking numerous different projects country units confined entirely construction conducted river patrol operations baghdad new mission company essential force protection troop transportation search operations protect sabotage fixed bridges september 38th medium bridge multi role bridge company float fixed capabilities active bridge company headquartered majority deployment operation iraqi freedom headquarters commanded engineers time conducting missions including humanitarian assistance missions dive missions base construction river patrols detection missile removal brigade units late early brigade soldiers returned february numerous logistical delays subordinate units receive roles invasion iraq brigade headquarters second tour iraq company sized unit return second tour iraq deployed september company returned september december headquarters informed deployed iraq year brigade mobilized began new deployment september began operating country month followed october brigade eventually replaced 20th engineer brigade operating country december brigade commanded engineering formations including engineers branches military total soldiers tour supported variety reconstruction tasks second tour iraq priority brigade maintain upgrade lines communications ground movement area operations duty included detection removal brigade undertook numerous construction projects primarily building coalition forward operating bases tasked construction projects iraqi army civilians units brigade integrated military branches projects navy marine_corps engineers operated soldiers commanders reported culture clash different branches service soldiers sailors marines able adapt situation quickly brigade managed engineer battalions undertook missions including humanitarian missions public affairs assignments supported brigade provided wide range duties headquarters task detecting removing proved particularly difficult brigade issue coalition forces leading cause casualties time specially tasked counter operations kilometers roads brigade responsible charged maintaining power grid iraq required assess power stations country repairs individually tasked construction projects projects involved expansion larger smaller ones shut consolidated main focuses battalion expansion living quarters responsible maintaining supply yards housing building materials rest brigade battalions ensure materials dispersed efficiently possible brigade mechanical vehicle maintenance duties provided civilian contractors contractors handled transportation construction vehicles vehicle parts theater year deployment iraq brigade reported progress numerous areas brigade commander colonel reported greater percent found roads corps recognized disarmed coalition forces brigade cleared kilometers road trash debris filled caused explosions completed mapping projects theater brigade finished numerous building projects iraq soldiers completed construction projects year country including bridges maintaining digging projects western iraq maintaining power grid coalition bases repairing expanding services region construction outposts country roadways assistance iraqi engineers deployment total soldiers brigade killed action returned second tour iraq october hawaii army forces europe seeing announced eliminated moved brigade formally left unit colors ceremony unit colors tradition formally signifying official purposes brigade ceased active army unit brigade headquarters june brigade originally slated relocate washington replace scheduled announcement grow army plan early decided engineer brigades permanently moved hawaii instead engineer brigades remained active duty brigade inactive year reconstructed hawaii transformation army brigade reorganized force new updated equipment new personnel brigade stood june neared ready status october brigade colors formally barracks hawaii end brigade relocation hawaii completion readiness new missions brigade took command 6th engineer battalions tour iraq brigade alerted deployment operation iraqi freedom summer missions include construction route clearance training iraqi engineers alerted deployment brigade began conducting vigorous training barracks training updated strategies detection clearance brigade began deployment july colors taking command construction projects area 18th returned barracks hawaii iraq june return iraq served capacity brigade provided combat engineering construction engineering dive operations support joint combined partners exercises multiple company sized deployments operations new dawn served philippines months brigade headquarters built schools purpose facilities brigade subordinate joint partners conducted medical events help improve lives filipino people event brigade skills responding humanitarian aid disaster response events region completion brigade shifted training focus stability operations major combat operations specifically brigade initiated month train plan graded war fighter korea series individual collective training events brigade cases learned skills necessary achieve victory high intensity conflict war path exercise finally spectrum exercise november earned highest marks accolades given brigade certification war fighter exercise series exercises helped improve significant task organizations engineer concepts operations combined arms gap crossing plans remain ready fight tonight called operation enduring freedom headquarters company subordinate battalions combat effects deployed support operation enduring freedom september october marked brigade headquarters deployment afghanistan week period officially took october joint task force triple joint task force overseeing navy air_force engineer units afghanistan direct subordinate element constituted fourth largest command theater regional commands core provisional multi role brigade headquarters engineer operations afghanistan seven subordinate battalions engineer prime beef squadron consisting soldiers sailors airmen operating september december joint task force mission theater trains advises construction facility management assured mobility capabilities supporting expeditionary construction assured mobility january joint task force mission theater joint task force partners engineers enable independent operations support expeditionary construction order set conditions support mission turned responsibility operation enduring freedom 2nd joint base richardson joint task force returned barracks hawaii afghanistan june honors unit decorations campaign
130th Engineer Brigade (United States)