August 13, 2012

USACE introduces cadets to European engineering

By Jennifer Aldridge U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District Public Affairs Specialist Europe is filled with backpacking college students trav- issues is essential. eling from one country to the next at this time of year. Shadowing a USACE project engineer provided Cansler Before entering the real world, they embark on nomadic with practical experience in the field he intends to pursue adventures in new cities, with new people, trekking as far in the Army. as the Eurail pass will permit. But United States Military Working on this project with the Corps reaffirms my Academy at West Point Cadets Alex Cansler and Timothy decisions to go into engineering, Cansler said. Ko traveled to Europe this summer wearing construction While Cansler finished up his work in the Netherlands, Ko boots rather than backpacks, ready to was busy digging into his assignment apply classroom lessons to real work with USACE in Ramstein, Germany. with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ko worked with a field team managEurope District. ing the construction of an Unmanned Cansler, a rising West Point junior, Aircraft System Satellite Communicaand Ko, a rising senior, took part in the tions relay facility at Ramstein Air Base. schools Academic Individual Advanced The U.A.S. SATCOM project includes Development program. The program an operations building with space for encourages students to seek opporsquadron administration and maintunities to work for civilian or military tenance functions. In addition, 12 organizations for up to four weeks each Alex Cansler, a rising U.S. Military Academy at U.A.S. SATCOM relay structural pads summer. Majoring in Civil Engineering West Point junior majoring in Civil Engineering, and foundations with access roads, and Engineering Management respec- took part in the schools Academic Individual Ad- utilities and underground connections tively, Cansler and Ko sought placement vanced Development program working for the will be constructed. The facility aims U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District on to achieve Leadership in Energy and with USACE. Cansler spent three weeks shadowing a construction project site in Brunssum, the Neth- Environmental Design Silver certificaJessica Reath, a district project engineer erlands this summer. tion upon completion. managing the Schinnen Child Youth and School Services Ko worked alongside his mentor Capt. Shai-Lin Ynacay, the Center project in Brunssum, the Netherlands. resident office project engineer, to gain perspective on what The internship was an opportunity to gain familiarity with it takes to execute a complex military construction project. how a job site runs, Cansler said. I am learning how USACE works, Ko said. Prior to startBefore this, I had no idea how my major applied in the ing this internship I didnt know what the mission was. world, said Cansler. Its always best to be able to see Once Ko gained a better understanding of what USACE what you are learning -- I took construction management in Europe District does -- provide premier engineering, conthe classroom but I did not learn what I am learning here. struction, stability operations, and environmental manageCansler explained that being on a job site allowed him to ment products and services for the Army, Air Force and visualize the project, even though it was not yet complete. other U.S. government agencies and foreign governments In a short time, he assisted Reath by preparing contract throughout the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa modification documents, researching contractor requests Command areas of responsibility -- he was able to work for information, inspecting mechanical installation and with Ynacay to make sure the small project details were observing worker compliance with safety regulations. being properly executed. According to Canslers USACE mentor Reath, he came in Next semester I will take a project management class, and immediately contributed to the office. Ko said. I was skeptical if I would use it in the future. Alex exhibited enthusiasm for learning and his efforts Observing first-hand how USACE manages projects, Ko were greatly appreciated, Reath said. reassessed his opinion of the importance of project manThe Schinnen CYSSC project is complicated and unique agement. because the facility will serve the needs of multiple inYou have to be out there on the project site ensuring stallations in the tri-border (Germany, Belgium and the quality is being met yourself, Ko said. Before this summer, Netherlands) community. Coincidentally, Canslers father, I had no idea how my major applied in the world. Now I do. Joseph Cansler, is the Director of Public Works at USAG Spending the summer on a construction site with an Benelux-Schinnen, a future CYSSC facility user. From his active duty Soldier and learning about her career was an perspective, the internship with the Corps has enabled his awesome experience, Ko said. son to physically get a feel for construction. It opened up another career path for me. I didnt think Construction takes practical experience before being good about joining the Corps of Engineers before I followed Capt. at it, Joseph Cansler said. Understanding the timeline of Ynacay, said Ko. I think working for the Corps would be how a project runs, paperwork, sub-contractors and onsite pretty cool.

Courtesy photo

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