Army Engineers Conduct Bridge-Building Exercise in Texas

View Online Army Engineers Conduct Bridge-Building Exercise in Texas April 14, 2026 |  By Chad Eller, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District Army Reserve soldiers assigned to the 401st Engineer Company spent March 26-29 at Bardwell Lake, Texas, conducting a multiday bridge-building exercise designed to train new troops and refresh skills. Army 1st Lt. Jacob Hawkins, a platoon leader with the 401st, said the company specializes in building floating bridges and rafts that allow military vehicles and personnel to cross bodies of water when permanent infrastructure is damaged, unavailable or tactically unsuitable. "We basically make bridges that float on water," Hawkins said, noting that the unit uses specialized boats and modular bridge sections to create rafts capable of carrying Humvees, tanks and other heavy equipment. "Anytime we need people to get from one side of the water to the next, we can create a raft and take them across." The company recently relocated from Oklahoma to Seagoville, Texas, bringing in a wave of new soldiers. Hawkins estimated that roughly half the unit is fresh out of advanced individual training, making this their first hands-on experience with bridge building operations. "There's not very many times in the military where you get to be on a boat or a bridge floating around," he said. "Once you're out on the water, you can see all the soldiers smiling. They're having a good time. It's great for morale." The training includes both day and night operations. Soldiers practiced deploying bridge bays, maneuvering boats, assembling rafts and transporting vehicles, skills that can be critical in real-world missions. Hawkins recalled a previous large-scale exercise in which the unit moved an entire battalion across a river in a single night. "Between five and 10 minutes, you can do a build," he said. "It's really cool to see how fast they can do this little Tetris act with the bridges." Army Capt. Charles LeBaron, the company commander, said the exercise also serves as a field-training event for soldiers who have spent little time outside of the classroom environment. "Getting them straight into a reserve unit that actually gets to go out into the field and practice their job is amazing," he said. The training was conducted in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates Bardwell Lake. LeBaron praised the collaboration, calling the Corps of Engineers "a great partner to work with" and highlighting the value of having access to the facilities it manages. "They [were] more than welcome to have us out here," he said. "They get activity on their lake, they get publicity and we get good training. It's good for the engineer regiment as a whole." With mostly clear skies, mild temperatures and open water, soldiers spent their nights camping near the shoreline — an experience Hawkins described as ideal for training and building camaraderie.

ABOUT   NEWS   HELP CENTER   PRESS PRODUCTS

Unsubscribe | Contact Us

 

This email was sent to sajanram1986.channel@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. Department of War 1400 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1400

DOW Featured Photos

Fire Away A Marine assigned to India Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, part... Photo Details > Drone Hunter Army Sgt. Jimmy McCain, a 114th Aviation Regiment soldier assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Bord... Photo Details > All Photos

ABOUT   NEWS   HELP CENTER   PRESS PRODUCTS

Unsubscribe | Contact Us

This email was sent to sajanram1986.channel@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. Department of War 1400 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1400

DOW Featured Photos

Making a Splash Soldiers helocast into Victory Pond during the Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., April 1... Photo Details > Class Is in Session Military children participate in a drone demonstration during Operation Reserve Kids at Luke Air For... Photo Details > Line of Fire Airmen practice target shooting with M4s during small-arms training at Joint Base San Antonio, April... Photo Details > Feel the Beat Marine Corps Cpl. Jesse Powers, a percussion instrumentalist with Marine Band San Diego, performs fo... Photo Details > All Photos

ABOUT   NEWS   HELP CENTER   PRESS PRODUCTS

Unsubscribe | Contact Us

This email was sent to sajanram1986.channel@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. Department of War 1400 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1400

Pitcher Awards Jury | #BehindtheSelfie: Jessy van Eden

Boundless becomes 51% Black-owned

Marketing & Media Tue 14 April 2026 ALL INDUSTRIES  | COMPANIES  | JOBS  | EVENTS  | SUBMIT NEWS  | ADVERTISE  | FOLLOW  | MY ACCOUNT  | SUBSCRIBE  |  UNSUBSCRIBE The Pitcher Awards 2026 unveils dynamic jury The Pitcher Awards - a celebration of African creativity - has confirmed the first wave of jury members... Read more #BehindtheSelfie: Talking FOMO with OneDayOnly's Jessy van Eden KARABO LEDWABA This week, I spoke to Jessy van Eden, brand and strategic partnerships manager at OneDayOnly, about how the brand gets FOMO right... read Boundless becomes 51% Black-owned, 30% Black female-owned, and marginally more responsible ISSUED BY BOUNDLESS In a move that has shocked absolutely no one except a few spreadsheets, Boundless today announced the successful conclusion of a Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) transaction with the Siyandisa Group, a 100% Black-owned and 60% Black female-owned B-BBEE investment group... read J.C. Le Roux challenges South African culture of celebration with ‘Make a Thing of It’ campaign ISSUED BY TBWA J.C. Le Roux, the leader in the country’s sparkling wine category, has partnered with TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris to launch ‘Make a Thing of It’ – a campaign that challenges how South Africans think about celebration... Read Advertising Publicis outperforms industry, confirms growth guidance for 2026 Publicis has announced its Q1 2026 results... Read Branding Trade dress dispute hots up as Tabasco takes Stoli to court over vodka bottle design NISHAAT SLAMDIEN What do vodka and pepper sauce have in common? Surprisingly, their packaging... Read CRM, CX, UX Communication integration and automation ISSUED BY CELERITY.CHAT Marketing automation is no longer a niche capability, but a global priority. Industry forecasts project the global marketing automation market to exceed $80bn by 2030, driven by double-digit annual growth as organisations seek to streamline engagement, scale operations and personalise customer journeys... Read Digital Shopaygo: Bob's connected e-commerce ecosystem awareness campaign Bob's nationwide awareness campaign shopaygo shows it as a connected e-commerce ecosystem where users can shop, pay and send more easily... Read Events & Conferencing Nedbank returns to lead as Platinum Partner for the 2026 Nedbank Top Empowerment Conference and Awards ISSUED BY TOPCO MEDIA The 2026 Nedbank Top Empowerment Conference and Awards will take place on 17 and 18 June 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre, with Nedbank returning as Platinum Partner and at a pivotal moment for South Africa’s transformation agenda... Read Film & Cinematography Afda launches Micro-Drama Storytelling Short Course EARLE HOLMES, ISSUED BY AFDA In an era where storytelling lives in the palm of your hand, Afda continues to lead innovation in creative education with the launch of the Afda Micro-Drama Storytelling Short Course, a future-focused short course designed for the next generation of digital storytellers... Read Marketing How brands can update their marketing system for the AI era CAITLYN GREVE Caitlyn Greve, digital co-ordinator at Sauce Advertising, looks at the local discovery problem CMOs can’t afford to ignore… Read Loyalty marketing is solving the wrong problem PHILIP COHEN Philip Cohen of Fofum Brands gives insight into how are doubling down on loyalty while consumers are switching more than ever... Read Media Kenyan and Zambian journalists win Michael Elliott Award Stephanie Wangari of Kenya and Annie Zulu of Zambia have been named the 2026 recipients of the Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling... Read OOH Blu Label Media appoints new marketing and media intelligence manager in strategic shift ISSUED BY BLU LABEL MEDIA Blu Label Media is entering a new chapter that is defined by sharper strategy, deeper insight, and a renewed focus on measurable impact... Read Retail B-well’s 'Buy only what you need' refill model gains traction in townships Month‑on‑month growth in both sales and transactions suggests the refill model is becoming part of everyday shopping routines rather than a novelty... Read Danone names Nyaladzi Moyo as country director to boost local dairy sector The appointment signals a continued focus on building a more agile and market-responsive organisation in South Africa, one of Danone’s key growth markets on the continent... Read Africa VW Group Africa reaches 500,000 export Polo milestone The milestone vehicle, a Crystal Ice Blue, right-hand-drive Polo, is destined for the United Kingdom, one of VWGA’s key export markets... Read International Business G20 rift widens as South Africa excluded from key finance discussions South Africa excluded from G20 finance meetings after US denied accreditation... Read Boosting SA Stem skills: Sasol's 2027 bursary programme open for entry Applications are open for Sasol's 2027 bursary programme, which funds full-time undergraduate studies in engineering and science... Read Recall notice: Boston Scientific recalls medical devices over safety concerns According to the supplier, the affected devices may experience deployment issues. ... Read New Press Office on Bizcommunity More   |   Join RoadCover RoadCover manages and supports motorists and their families through the process of claiming from the Road Accident Fund, providing professional legal assistance at no cost to the victim*. Contact  |  News  |  VISIT PRESS OFFICE  |  Linkedin  |  Facebook Jobs offered Digitally Savy Project Manager - Cape Town Digital Project Manager to lead marketing execution, content and campaigns in a fast-growing health brand. Ideal for ambitious, high-initiative individuals wanting to grow and make real impact. Read more >> Motoring Journalist - Pretoria Broad Media is growing the TopAuto editorial team and has an exciting opportunity for a motoring journalist. Read more >> Journalism Internship (Paid Position) - Centurion Broad Media is growing its editorial team and has great opportunities for graduates who want to work in digital media. Read more >> Journalist - Centurion Broad Media is growing its editorial team and has an exciting opportunity for journalists. Read more >> Digital Account Manager - Cape Town Midweight Graphic Designer - Fourways, Johannesburg Librarian - Johannesburg General Manager - Cape Town Modern Trade Manager - Johannesburg Digital and Print Advertising Sales Executive - Cape Town Finance Manager - Cape Town Flexo Label Machine Operator - Edenvale Managing Editor - Cape Town Sales Representative - Pretoria Content Growth Lead - Cape Town Digital Designer - Centurion PR Account Director - Johannesburg More jobs   Submit a job   Customise jobs New events to diarise Marketing Indaba 2026 - CTICC, Cape Town - 22 Apr 2026 to 23 Apr 2026 , Cape Town Marketing Indaba 2026 is one of South Africa's leading marketing conferences now in its 16th year. More info >> The New Gen Trends in Marketing & Tech Conference - 26 May 2026 , Johannesburg The fifth annual conference will feature nine of the industry's biggest innovators and influencers from the corporate and agency sectors, including recipients of last year's New Generation Awards. More info >> Introduction to Figma - virtual live streamed course Academy of Digital Arts - 20 Apr 2026 to 6 May 2026, Johannesburg Workplace AI for Productivity Belsias Communications - 9 Jun 2026 to 11 Jun 2026, Midrand Autumn on a plate The Maslow Sandton - 20 Jun 2026, Sandton More Events  Submit an event  Customise events FOLLOW US List company List CV List new business List portfolio showcase List profile Submit event Submit gallery Submit job ad Submit new appointment Submit news Submit noticeboard Submit op-ed contribution Home My job ads My events My company My CV Advertising: We welcome your sales enquiries! Email sales and read more about our advertising rates 3rd Floor, 62 Roeland St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa. Tel +27 (0)21 404 1460 © 2026 bizcommunity.com. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe. Manage subscription. Subscribe. Change email. Change frequency to WEEKLY.