Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • USACE Chief Says Farewell To Engineers in Afghanistan

    Uploaded by

    579th Engineer Detachment (FEST-M)
    22 views2 pages
    USACE chief says farewell to engineers in Afghanistan by Mark Abueg KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Feb. 11, 2011) – “Is there anyone that’s older than 61,” asked the gentlemen dressed in an Army Camouflage Uniform. “Oh, there. Hey, I’m in good company here,” he said looking at hands raised throughout the audience as he reflected on the fact that he had just turned 61 years of age. The Army officer proceeded to tell about how Arthur Fonzarelli, from the TV show, Happy Days, used to look in the mirror and take a comb from his pocket and square himself away. He too looked in the mirror and fixed himself up in the same manner as “The Fonz” as he was getting ready for a military ball. After checking himself over, he turned to his wife for an intimate quip between the two. “Well, I just turned 61, babe,” he said. “Do I look it?” With a grin, the salt and pepper haired officer let the audience know how she affectionately replied. “You used to,” she said. And with that tale told, the crowd of over 200 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers roared with a gentle laughter to the approval of the 52nd Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of USACE. Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, or “General Van,” as he is affectionately known throughout the Corps, visited Afghanistan for the last time yesterday as the Army’s top engineer after 39 years of service. Members of the 579th Engineer Detachment (Forward Engineer Support Team - Main) and Afghanistan Engineer District – South hung on Van Antwerp’s words as he discussed the state of the Corps of Engineers, and the strides it has made, especially in Afghanistan. Van Antwerp serves as the senior military officer overseeing most of the America’s civil works infrastructure and military construction. But it wasn’t about the work in the United States that Van Antwerp wanted to talk about. It was about the mission being accomplished overseas in Afghanistan. “We’re an economic engine for this country,” he said. “And the truth is that a lot of the jobs created in this country are created by the contractors that the Corps of Engineers hires … and we’ve created a lot of jobs.” Van Antwerp reminded the FEST-M that the Corps has three big functional areas. “We have the Military Programs, Civil Works, and then we have the Research and Development,” he said. “This year it’ll be about $41 billion in those three programs.” Overseeing activities and providing direction to the Corps is the U.S. assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, who accompanied Van Antwerp on the trip. She was impressed not only with the Corps work, but with the individuals, who have deployed in support of overseas contingency operations. “I think the fact that you are all here because you volunteered to come just shows me something that I think is irreplaceable any place else,” Darcy said. But the day belonged to Van Antwerp as he praised the Corps’ accomplishments. “One other milestone we passed in 2010 was the 10,000th deployment by a civilian in the Corps of Engineers to the theater of operations,” he said. “10,000 – that is a big number.” An even bigger number was the one involving the amount of work completed by the Corps. USACE had 39,500 people working on $12 billion worth of projects in 1992. Compare that to 2010 year end’s number that saw 37,000 Corps employees completing $41 billion of development, which includes the work in Afghanistan. “That is amazing and that’s what this country needs,” he said. “So you’re supporting that, and you’re supporting it through your local nationals that you’re building a bench for the future, and I think it’s going to have an impact you don’t even know about. “Generating jobs and doing great things for the infrastructure of this country. Pretty amazing.” For all of Van Antwerp’s own accomplishments, he is proud of the success of the Corps of Engineers. “I’ll tell you today that when I walk into the Pentagon, there is no question where the U.S. Army is in the

    Original Title

    USACE chief says farewell to engineers in Afghanistan

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    USACE chief says farewell to engineers in Afghanistan by Mark Abueg KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Feb. 11, 2011) – “Is there anyone that’s older than 61,” asked the gentlemen dressed in an Army Camouflage Uniform. “Oh, there. Hey, I’m in good company here,” he said looking at hands raised throughout the audience as he reflected on the fact that he had just turned 61 years of age. The Army officer proceeded to tell about how Arthur Fonzarelli, from the TV show, Happy Days, used to look in the mirror and take a comb from his pocket and square himself away. He too looked in the mirror and fixed himself up in the same manner as “The Fonz” as he was getting ready for a military ball. After checking himself over, he turned to his wife for an intimate quip between the two. “Well, I just turned 61, babe,” he said. “Do I look it?” With a grin, the salt and pepper haired officer let the audience know how she affectionately replied. “You used to,” she said. And with that tale told, the crowd of over 200 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers roared with a gentle laughter to the approval of the 52nd Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of USACE. Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, or “General Van,” as he is affectionately known throughout the Corps, visited Afghanistan for the last time yesterday as the Army’s top engineer after 39 years of service. Members of the 579th Engineer Detachment (Forward Engineer Support Team - Main) and Afghanistan Engineer District – South hung on Van Antwerp’s words as he discussed the state of the Corps of Engineers, and the strides it has made, especially in Afghanistan. Van Antwerp serves as the senior military officer overseeing most of the America’s civil works infrastructure and military construction. But it wasn’t about the work in the United States that Van Antwerp wanted to talk about. It was about the mission being accomplished overseas in Afghanistan. “We’re an economic engine for this country,” he said. “And the truth is that a lot of the jobs created in this country are created by the contractors that the Corps of Engineers hires … and we’ve created a lot of jobs.” Van Antwerp reminded the FEST-M that the Corps has three big functional areas. “We have the Military Programs, Civil Works, and then we have the Research and Development,” he said. “This year it’ll be about $41 billion in those three programs.” Overseeing activities and providing direction to the Corps is the U.S. assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, who accompanied Van Antwerp on the trip. She was impressed not only with the Corps work, but with the individuals, who have deployed in support of overseas contingency operations. “I think the fact that you are all here because you volunteered to come just shows me something that I think is irreplaceable any place else,” Darcy said. But the day belonged to Van Antwerp as he praised the Corps’ accomplishments. “One other milestone we passed in 2010 was the 10,000th deployment by a civilian in the Corps of Engineers to the theater of operations,” he said. “10,000 – that is a big number.” An even bigger number was the one involving the amount of work completed by the Corps. USACE had 39,500 people working on $12 billion worth of projects in 1992. Compare that to 2010 year end’s number that saw 37,000 Corps employees completing $41 billion of development, which includes the work in Afghanistan. “That is amazing and that’s what this country needs,” he said. “So you’re supporting that, and you’re supporting it through your local nationals that you’re building a bench for the future, and I think it’s going to have an impact you don’t even know about. “Generating jobs and doing great things for the infrastructure of this country. Pretty amazing.” For all of Van Antwerp’s own accomplishments, he is proud of the success of the Corps of Engineers. “I’ll tell you today that when I walk into the Pentagon, there is no question where the U.S. Army is in the

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    22 views2 pages

    USACE Chief Says Farewell To Engineers in Afghanistan

    Uploaded by

    579th Engineer Detachment (FEST-M)
    USACE chief says farewell to engineers in Afghanistan by Mark Abueg KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Feb. 11, 2011) – “Is there anyone that’s older than 61,” asked the gentlemen dressed in an Army Camouflage Uniform. “Oh, there. Hey, I’m in good company here,” he said looking at hands raised throughout the audience as he reflected on the fact that he had just turned 61 years of age. The Army officer proceeded to tell about how Arthur Fonzarelli, from the TV show, Happy Days, used to look in the mirror and take a comb from his pocket and square himself away. He too looked in the mirror and fixed himself up in the same manner as “The Fonz” as he was getting ready for a military ball. After checking himself over, he turned to his wife for an intimate quip between the two. “Well, I just turned 61, babe,” he said. “Do I look it?” With a grin, the salt and pepper haired officer let the audience know how she affectionately replied. “You used to,” she said. And with that tale told, the crowd of over 200 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers roared with a gentle laughter to the approval of the 52nd Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of USACE. Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, or “General Van,” as he is affectionately known throughout the Corps, visited Afghanistan for the last time yesterday as the Army’s top engineer after 39 years of service. Members of the 579th Engineer Detachment (Forward Engineer Support Team - Main) and Afghanistan Engineer District – South hung on Van Antwerp’s words as he discussed the state of the Corps of Engineers, and the strides it has made, especially in Afghanistan. Van Antwerp serves as the senior military officer overseeing most of the America’s civil works infrastructure and military construction. But it wasn’t about the work in the United States that Van Antwerp wanted to talk about. It was about the mission being accomplished overseas in Afghanistan. “We’re an economic engine for this country,” he said. “And the truth is that a lot of the jobs created in this country are created by the contractors that the Corps of Engineers hires … and we’ve created a lot of jobs.” Van Antwerp reminded the FEST-M that the Corps has three big functional areas. “We have the Military Programs, Civil Works, and then we have the Research and Development,” he said. “This year it’ll be about $41 billion in those three programs.” Overseeing activities and providing direction to the Corps is the U.S. assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, who accompanied Van Antwerp on the trip. She was impressed not only with the Corps work, but with the individuals, who have deployed in support of overseas contingency operations. “I think the fact that you are all here because you volunteered to come just shows me something that I think is irreplaceable any place else,” Darcy said. But the day belonged to Van Antwerp as he praised the Corps’ accomplishments. “One other milestone we passed in 2010 was the 10,000th deployment by a civilian in the Corps of Engineers to the theater of operations,” he said. “10,000 – that is a big number.” An even bigger number was the one involving the amount of work completed by the Corps. USACE had 39,500 people working on $12 billion worth of projects in 1992. Compare that to 2010 year end’s number that saw 37,000 Corps employees completing $41 billion of development, which includes the work in Afghanistan. “That is amazing and that’s what this country needs,” he said. “So you’re supporting that, and you’re supporting it through your local nationals that you’re building a bench for the future, and I think it’s going to have an impact you don’t even know about. “Generating jobs and doing great things for the infrastructure of this country. Pretty amazing.” For all of Van Antwerp’s own accomplishments, he is proud of the success of the Corps of Engineers. “I’ll tell you today that when I walk into the Pentagon, there is no question where the U.S. Army is in the

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 2

    HEADLINE NEWS

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Building Strong ®


    579th Engineer Detachment (FEST-M) Global Support

    USACE chief says farewell to engineers in Afghanistan


    by Mark Abueg
    KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Feb. 11, 2011) – “Is
    there anyone that’s older than 61,” asked the gentlemen dressed
    in an Army Camouflage Uniform.

    “Oh, there. Hey, I’m in good company here,” he said looking at


    hands raised throughout the audience as he reflected on the fact
    that he had just turned 61 years of age.

    The Army officer proceeded to tell about how Arthur Fonzarelli,


    from the TV show, Happy Days, used to look in the mirror and
    take a comb from his pocket and square himself away.

    He too looked in the mirror and fixed himself up in the same


    manner as “The Fonz” as he was getting ready for a military ball. Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, Jr., right, the chief of
    engineers and commanding general for the U.S. Army Corps
    After checking himself over, he turned to his wife for an intimate of Engineers, speaks with the 579th Engineer Detachment
    quip between the two. (FEST-M) during his recent visit to Afghanistan. This was Van
    Antwerp’s final visit as the chief as he will be retiring after 39
    years of service in the U.S. Army. (Photo by Mark Abueg)
    “Well, I just turned 61, babe,” he said. “Do I look it?”

    With a grin, the salt and pepper haired officer let the audience know how she affectionately replied.

    “You used to,” she said.

    And with that tale told, the crowd of over 200 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers roared with a gentle laughter to the
    approval of the 52nd Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of USACE.

    Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, or “General Van,” as he is affectionately known throughout the Corps, visited
    Afghanistan for the last time yesterday as the Army’s top engineer after 39 years of service.

    Members of the 579th Engineer Detachment (Forward Engineer Support Team - Main) and Afghanistan Engineer
    District – South hung on Van Antwerp’s words as he discussed the state of the Corps of Engineers, and the strides it
    has made, especially in Afghanistan.

    Van Antwerp serves as the senior military officer overseeing most of the America’s civil works infrastructure and
    military construction.

    But it wasn’t about the work in the United States that Van Antwerp wanted to talk about. It was about the mission
    being accomplished overseas in Afghanistan.

    ---- continued on page 2 -----

    U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – 579TH ENGINEER DETACHMENT (FEST-M)


    Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
    E-mail: 579festmpao@usace.army.mil
    www.mvd.usace.army.mil/579festm
    Page 2

    “We’re an economic engine for this country,” he said.


    “And the truth is that a lot of the jobs created in this
    country are created by the contractors that the Corps of
    Engineers hires … and we’ve created a lot of jobs.”

    Van Antwerp reminded the FEST-M that the Corps has


    three big functional areas.

    “We have the Military Programs, Civil Works, and then


    we have the Research and Development,” he said. “This
    year it’ll be about $41 billion in those three programs.”

    Overseeing activities and providing direction to the Corps


    is the U.S. assistant secretary of the Army for Civil
    Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, who accompanied Van Antwerp
    on the trip. She was impressed not only with the Corps
    work, but with the individuals, who have deployed in
    support of overseas contingency operations.
    Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, Jr., left, receives a unit shirt from Col.
    “I think the fact that you are all here because you
    Richard W. Dean, and becomes an honorary member of the 579th
    Engineer Detachment (FEST-M). (Photo by Mark Abueg) volunteered to come just shows me something that I think
    is irreplaceable any place else,” Darcy said.

    But the day belonged to Van Antwerp as he praised the Corps’ accomplishments.

    “One other milestone we passed in 2010 was the 10,000th deployment by a civilian in the Corps of Engineers to the
    theater of operations,” he said. “10,000 – that is a big number.”

    An even bigger number was the one involving the amount of work completed by the Corps. USACE had 39,500
    people working on $12 billion worth of projects in 1992. Compare that to 2010 year end’s number that saw 37,000
    Corps employees completing $41 billion of development, which includes the work in Afghanistan.

    “That is amazing and that’s what this country needs,” he said. “So you’re supporting that, and you’re supporting it
    through your local nationals that you’re building a bench for the future, and I think it’s going to have an impact you
    don’t even know about.

    “Generating jobs and doing great things for the infrastructure of this country. Pretty amazing.”

    For all of Van Antwerp’s own accomplishments, he is proud of the success of the Corps of Engineers.

    “I’ll tell you today that when I walk into the Pentagon, there is no question where the U.S. Army is in the U.S. Army
    Corps of Engineers,” he said. “Cause they see you over here. They see you deliver.”

    U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – 579TH ENGINEER DETACHMENT (FEST-M)


    Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
    E-mail: 579festmpao@usace.army.mil
    www.mvd.usace.army.mil/579festm

    You might also like