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/284727
16 Engineer January–April 2014
the projects that emanate from those requirements. The
following are thoughts for further consideration:
■ Explore component level discussions with IMCOM about
the risks of budget cuts and how comprehensive risk
management strategies can be developed for operations
and management (for demand work orders and sched-
uled maintenance); for sustainment, restoration, and
modernization; and for minor construction using and
programming contributions by the uniformed side of the
Engineer Regiment.
■ Explore the potential of green-suit participation in civil
works and military construction projects. This doesn't
suggest that an Army unit would construct the next
Hoover Dam. But units could participate in major civil
works projects by simply clearing and grubbing as site
preparation (something that could be accomplished
by sapper units with chain saws), taking part in an exist-
ing project such as routine maintenance of USACE-
owned levees, or performing emergency hazard mitiga-
tion during A proof of principle is in the plan-
ning stages at the Folsom Dam in California, where
there is potential for Army units to reestablish an access
roadway and demolish an existing temporary access
bridge as part of a much larger project.
■ Continue the integration process of broadening and
increasing connectivity between the tribes of the Engi-
neer Regiment. Perhaps some IMCOM or USACE proj-
ects might interest the green-suit side of the Regiment
if they can lead to material cost savings for the govern-
ment. The USACE technical-development program is
just one point of light in this vein that allows engineer
offcers to train at a USACE district and then receive a
guaranteed seat at the Engineer Captains Career
Course. How often do we allow branch-qualifed offcers
to intern with USACE or a garrison DPW before taking
their next critical career step?
■ The authoritative regulation,
Army Regulation 415-32, Engi-
neer Troop Unit Construction
in Connection With Training
Activities,
2
was last revised on
15 April 1998. The changes
the Army has experienced in
that time should feed a new
revision that creates pathways
rather than barriers to realiz-
ing this concept.
■ The biggest takeaway must
be that the potential exists for
a change in mind-set for Net
Zero for Training to take place.
If this mind-set can be adop-
ted, it will assure a higher level
of readiness for the Engineer
Regiment and will ensure its
indispensability to our Army
and our Nation at a time when they need us most.
Conclusion
T
his article is meant to stir discussion about how to
create low- to no-cost training opportunities under
the tight budgets of the future. It is by no means all-
inclusive. It is apparent that the total Engineer Regiment
will need to bridge the gaps in funding and thinking to create
conditions for building readiness and solving larger infra-
structural challenges. Above all, we must not stop thinking
and discussing due to retrenchment into our basic tribes. It
will be a combination of relationships, proximity, and good
engineer economical methods that will carry us through the
coming era of declining resources. Net Zero for Training may
be one way to help us get there. As always, the author wel-
comes vociferous debate and can be reached at