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Army Engineer Diver

The United States Army currently has multiple organic diver assets. These divers have similar skills and qualifications as Professional diving assets.

History

Deep Sea Divers have been a part of the Unites States Army since the Spanish American War. In 1898 they constructed a cofferdam around the USS Maine to facilitate the ships inspection and determine the cause of its sinking.

During World War I, Army Divers built and inspected bridges, tunnels, and port facilities.

During World War II, as part of US Army Port Construction and Repair Groups, US Army Divers operated throughout the European and Pacific theaters. Divers performed salvage, demolition, pier construction, and bridging support. US Army Divers were part of the landing at Utah Beach, the port reconstruction after the battle of Cherbourg, reopening of the Albert Canal from Liege to Quaedmechelen, the construction of the first Allied railroad bridge across the Rhine River and salvage operations throughout Philippine ports and rivers.

During the Korean War, Army Divers worked with Port Construction Companies to build and maintain pipelines in the ports of Inchon and Pohang, and reconstruct the locks in the port of Inchon.

During the Vietnam War Army Divers constructed ship to shore petroleum distribution and port facilities in Cam Rahn Bay and Qui Nhon; constructed ammo piers and conducted body, helicopter and vehicle recoveries throughout the theater.

During Desert Storm, divers deployed to Kuwait to engage in recovery operations after the ground war, clearing the Kuwaiti Port of Shuaybah by removing debris and damaged Kuwaiti and Iraqi boats from the port.

US Army Divers have supported port opening and reconstruction efforts in military operations in Somolia and Haiti.

For the last ten years, US Army Divers have been continuously deployed foreword to the CENTCOM area of operations, to include Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Jordan. Army Divers have directly supported maneuver commander on the battlefield; conducting operations to include underwater searches for bodies, vehicles, aircraft and equipment, bridging and river crossing operations, demolition, salvage operations, port security, and ships husbandry.

Army Engineer Divers continue to represent the vast capabilities of the US Army Engineer Regiment by providing expeditionary engineer diving capabilities in support of combat, general and geo-spatial engineer across the full spectrum of operations the world over.

Throughout the Army Engineer Diver history, divers have been organized under various commands and units, ranging from Engineer Port Construction to Transportation Support Commands. Currently, Army Engineer Divers are organized into five detachments at Joint Base Langley Eustis, VA and one detachment at Fort Shafter, HI. Throughout the Army Diver’s history, they have trained and fought alongside their Navy Dive brethren. Therefore, the co-location at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center is a fitting representation of their intertwined and storied history.”

Current Duties and Operations

Army Engineer Divers- Trained in underwater construction, salvage, demolitions, hydrographic survey, hyperbaric chamber operation, beach and river recon, bridge recon, underwater cutting and welding, side scan sonar operations, mine and countermine operations, search and recovery operations and ships husbandry operations. Army divers use both surface supplied "Hard hat" and scuba to perform their missions.

Training Facilities

Army Divers are trained at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) in Panama City, Florida.

Qualifications/Badges

Badges are awarded according to Humans Resource Command (HRC) and the Diver insignia regulations.

2nd Class Diver - E-1 to E-4 personnel. This is the basic diving qualification in the awarded upon completion of AIT School (pin awarded upon after the 6 month course) at NDSTC. Primary duties are to serve as in-water operators during various missions.

Salvage Diver - E-4 to E-6 personnel. This is awarded upon the completion of the 2nd Class Diver checklist for Salvage Diver. Primary duties are to act as more experienced 2nd Class Divers during difficult diving operations.

1st Class Diver - E-6 to E-7 personnel. This is awarded upon completion of 1st Class Diver school at NDSTC. Primary duties are to act as diving supervisor on missions. They take care of all basic diver needs and mission requirements.

Master Diver - E-7 and Above personnel. This is awarded upon the completion of the academic course and "Master Diver Evals" at NDSTC. Primary duties are to act as on-site subject matter experts for all diving related issues. This is the highest, and most respected, level of diving an enlisted soldier can attain.

Marine Engineer Dive Officer - 0-1 to 0-3 personnel. This is awarded upon the completion of Marine Engineer Dive Officer course at NDSTC. This is run simultaneously with the 2nd Class Diver course. Primary duties are to act as the final approving position for missions and to facilitate all administrative needs for the detachment and the mission.

Current Equipment

The main hard hat Diving helmet that is utilized for surface supplied diving is the KM-37. It manufactured by Kirby Morgan

Diver Physical Fitness Test

Diving medical personnel evaluate the fitness of divers before operations begin and are prepared to handle any emergencies which might arise. They also observe the condition of other support personnel and are alert for signs of fatigue, overexposure, and heat exhaustion.

The test consists of the following carried out in the order given:

Swim 500 yards (457 m) within 14 minutes. (Candidates are allowed to push off the sides when turning.)
10 minute rest period.
Perform 42 push-ups within 2 minutes.
2 minute rest period.
Perform 50 sit-ups within 2 minutes.
2 minute rest period.
Perform 6 pull-ups. (Palms toward you. No kipping or swinging is allowed and the chin must clear the top of the bar on each repetition.)
10 minute rest period.
Run 1.5 miles (2.414 km) within 12 minutes 45 seconds.

Common Duties

Underwater Welding
Harbor Clearance
Diver Swimming
SCUBA

References

Supervisor of Diving, Naval Sea Systems Command, 2007. US Navy Diving Manual .(UK): AquaPress Publishing. ISBN 1-905492-06-5. Revision 5. Hardback. The complete manual for equipment, procedures and operations established by the Department of Navy.
Supervisor of Diving, Naval Sea Systems Command, 2007. US Navy Diving Manual .(UK): AquaPress Publishing. ISBN 1-905492-00-6. Revision 5. Looseleaf. The complete manual for equipment, procedures and operations established by the Department of Navy.
http://www.necc.navy.mil/diver/
http://www.necc.navy.mil/content.htm

External links