The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District welcomed the 62nd Engineer Detachment home June 26 during a ceremony at the district headquarters building. The team was deployed September 2012 through June 2013 at Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Known as a Forward Engineer Support Team – Advance, the group consists of a military commander, noncommissioned officer-in-charge and six Army civilians with expertise in geographic information systems, contracting, and civil, mechanical and electrical engineering. The detachment assisted 15 U.S. and NATO installations in an area of 1,000 square miles.
“You directly contributed to our nation and Army’s effort to help a struggling country,” said Col. Christopher Lestochi, district commander, while addressing the team. “In my view, you’ve become real heroes.”
The crew successfully executed more than 80 design and management support missions valued at $40 million including for Afghanistan Security Force funds. Additionally, the detachment conducted over 20 engineering missions such as route reconnaissance, facility assessments and feasibility studies.
“We deployed eight men to Afghanistan and completed over 100 projects,” said Capt. Corey Warren, detachment commander. “Most importantly we redeployed them safely to rejoin their families and loved ones.”
The team’s most critical capability is its ability to use the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 34,000 employees to solve combat commander’s most complex engineering problems.