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82nd ESC assumes engineer

responsibilities in Iraq

By 1stLt. Robert Scheuch, 326 EN BN Public Affairs Officer

APR. 15, 2011

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq The 82nd

Engineer Support Company of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, assumed

authority from the 617th

Engineer Support Company of Fort Lewis, Washington, during a Transfer of

Authority (TOA) ceremony that took place on April 15, 2011.

The 82nd

Engineer Support Company, known as Grave Diggers, will also continue the mission of

the 617th Engineer Support Company in support of Operation New Dawn (OND). The 82nd Engineer

Support Company will serve as the last remaining construction company throughout Iraq.

Prior to their arrival in Iraq, the 82nd

Engineer Support Company completed months of weapon

ranges, individual task training, Squad STX, Platoon STX, an NTC rotation, and a final load-out of

equipment in order to prepare themselves for Operation New Dawn.

The 617 Engineer Support Company returns to Fort Lewis, Washington, and resumes the duties

of a horizontal construction company.

CPT Joshua Long, a Fort Worth, Texas native, and commander of the 82nd

Engineer Support

Company, said that he was honored to continue the job begun by the 617th Engineer Support Company.

CPT Long took command of the 82nd

Engineer Support Company in May of 2010 and has led the

Company through many exercises prior to their arrival in Iraq.

Long said, It is an exciting and excellent opportunity that we have today, gentlemen, and we

gladly accept the tremendous honor and responsibility as the last construction company to serve in

Operation New Dawn.

This is not the first deployment the 82nd

Engineer Support Company has served. The company

also served in the Al-Anbar province based out of Ramadi during 2007 through 2008 in support of

Operation Iraqi Freedom. The company gained much accolade from other companies as well as from

the Battalion they served under during that deployment.

Long said We will clear and rebuild our way through this country leaving nothing behind but

excellence and good foundations. The Iraqi people will look up to us as great examples of what their

construction projects should look and operate like. Operating together with the Iraqi Engineers we will

we leave behind the knowledge and know how spirit to allow their efforts to become much more fruitful

than they have been in the past

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The 82nd Engineer Support Company is standing on the shoulders of the giants before them,

and they are ready to close out the construction end of Iraq to the Iraqi people with honor and dignity.

They are prepared to carry on the excellent traditions of the 326th

Engineer Battalion, the 20th

Engineer

Brigade, and the Engineer Regiment.