Guardsmen conduct obstacle breeching operations

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- As part of their monthly National Guard training, Soldiers with the 1138th Engineer Company reviewed techniques and procedures for detecting and destroying obstacles.

Obstacles can be anything from constantan wire, makeshift roadblocks and even improvised explosive devises, said Staff Sgt. Kevan Phillips, the unit's training noncommissioned officer.

"The Soldiers have to come up with various demolish firing circuits and operations to get through the obstacles," said Phillips, of Farmington. "If an enemy sets up an obstacle, we go in and move it."

The Soldiers conducted every task at a slower pace and used fake materials which prepares them for using live explosives at annual training this summer, said Phillips.

"Early in the year we start at a crawl phase and over the next several months we'll speed up our missions and training," said Phillips. "This gives everybody a chance to meticulously learn every aspect of their jobs."

In the field, the company divided into teams of four to six, and the Soldiers were told they had to clear a route with possible explosives and enemy combatants.

Before setting out, each team leader reminded their Soldiers to keep on their guard.

"Keep your eyes open," Spc. Jesse Chapell, of Columbia, told his team. "Look for anything weird or out of place."

The Soldiers slowly walked down the dirt path, weapons at the ready and looked for any signs of possible improvised explosive devices.

The teams spotted discarded water bottles, old plastic bags, piles of freshly dug up dirt, thoroughly checking each item. Rounding a bend, the Soldiers saw a bright blue object in the middle of the path half covered by grass and branches.

As his teammates set up security and scanned the fields for any hidden enemy combatants, Spc. Caleb Wiltse, crawling on his elbows, cautiously approached the unidentified object. He carefully removed the debris around it to reveal an explosive device.

Chapell and Spc. Steven Pruett, of Bonne Terre, and quickly put together their own explosive device using C-4 and wire. Then, Wiltse, of O'Fallon, set the C-4 in position so everything will explode off the path.

The team moved back to a safe distance.

The first obstacle destroyed, the Soldiers regrouped and continued down the path and repeat the scenario several more times.

Staff Sgt. Lawrence Johnson, of Farmington, followed each team to make sure they complete every single step.

"This type of training really prepares them for a real-world environment," said Johnson. "It also helps our lower enlisted work on their leadership skills when we switch around responsibilities for each team and each obstacle. Everybody gets to learn every job."

The Soldiers appreciated going at the slower pace now.

"It's a good review of the things we do," said Chapell. "It's good to do this in the crawl phase because we can learn from our mistakes."

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.