Engineer presents professional information designed to keep U.S. military and civilian engineers informed of current and emerging developments within their areas of expertise for the purpose of enhancing their professional development.
Issue link: https://engineer.epubxp.com/i/145930
condition that 10 years ago, the hospital built three new bathroom additions connected to the patient wards rather than repair the existing fxtures. The 6th Engineer Battalion plumbers updated the system by installing 35 water closets, four urinals, 30 sinks, 65 faucet kits, fve scrub sinks, and three showers. One of the biggest problems that the hospital faced was a lack of hot water. An Australian frm installed 30 solar water heaters on the roof 15 years ago. Each heater was attached to two solar panels and connected to a water source running into the hospital. The water heater tanks functioned, but the delivery system was failing for unknown reasons. Even after tracing the lines, the experienced 6th Engineer plumbers couldn't fnd a cause for the failure. To remedy the problem, they installed nine tankless water heaters in critical areas of the hospital such as the operating room and the neonatal intensive care unit. One of the team plumbers prepares to install a sink in the emergency room. ceiling tile, 18,240 linear feet of ceiling track, 51,000 square feet of foor tile, 13,200 linear feet of cove base, and 10,000 square feet of drywall. The platoon also applied paint to more than 120,000 square feet of the interior. The original precast concrete structure was still serviceable, but multiple spalls and areas of delaminated concrete needed repairs. The damage to the concrete was likely caused by the corrosion of its embedded reinforcing rebar. The team repaired more than 760 cubic feet of damaged concrete. The electrical system was professionally installed 40 years ago, but had not been properly maintained. Over the years, numerous additions had been installed, but none were up to code, thus posing safety concerns on the jobsite. The electricians had a challenging time fguring out the hospital wiring, because only about 10 percent of the circuit breakers were accurately labeled. Even using a circuit tracer, they had to spend at least twice as much time as initially estimated to identify the breakers correctly. In the end, the electricians ran more than 1,500 feet of wiring and installed 320 receptacles, 55 switches, 215 light fxtures, 800 covers, 25 exit signs, and 18 ceiling fans. The plumbing had been similarly neglected since the hospital was constructed. Faulty plumbing, a lack of waste drainage, and leaking water lines closed 75 percent of the patient restrooms and 30 percent of the staff restrooms. Plumbing throughout the hospital was in such poor 38 Engineer Even though the Soldiers worked 12 to 15 hours per day, 5 to 7 days each week, they found time to enjoy the island. Soldiers joined intramural soccer and softball leagues; earned rescue diver certifcations; and fshed for tuna, barracuda, and mahi mahi. More than half the platoon spent time on the outer islands, hiking to local waterfalls, kayaking, and visiting historical sites such as Nan Madol (a 500-yearold city known as the "Venice of the Pacifc") and numerous Japanese bunkers from World War II. Local workers also took Soldiers on day trips around the island and invited them into their homes for meals. One of the platoon Soldiers actually knew where Pohnpei was before deploying for the mission: he was born on the island and grew up there. It was pure luck that he arrived in Alaska and was assigned to the platoon chosen to deploy to Micronesia. After experiencing a few months of cold weather in Alaska, he looked forward to spending the winter back home in the Pacifc. As a native Pohnpei'n, he spoke the language and knew some of the host nation workers. He was promoted from private frst class to specialist during the deployment, and his father pinned on his new rank during the ceremony. The project had a personal meaning to the Soldier, because he was born at the Pohnpei State Hospital, where his father currently receives dialysis treatments three times each week. The opportunity to work on a project of this magnitude was a unique experience for every member of the platoon. The Soldiers improved their military occupational skills and increased the quality of life for more than 30,000 citizens. The Soldiers made such a positive impact that four of the local workers took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery in hopes of joining the military. The renovated Pohnpei State Hospital has received accolades from U.S. Ambassador Dorothea Rosen and Governor John Esha. First Lieutenant Thompson is a platoon leader with the 6th Engineer Battalion. She was the offcer in charge of the project and holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Minnesota. May–August 2013