 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
Army engineer divers are members of national armies who are trained to undertake tasks underwater, includingreconnaissance,demolition, andsalvage. These divers have similar skills and qualifications asprofessional divers. Army divers use both surface supplied "Hard hat" andSCUBA to perform their missions. In theUnited States Army, they are members of theCorps of Engineers. In theBritish Army, they may beRoyal Engineer Divers orCommando Engineer Divers.
Army engineer divers are members of nationalarmies. Army engineer divers are trained in underwaterconstruction,salvage,demolitions,hydrographic survey, hyperbaric chamber operation, beach and riverrecon, bridge recon,underwater cutting and welding,side scan sonar operations,mine andcountermine operations, and search and recovery operations. They are also training inships husbandry operations. These divers have similar skills and qualifications asprofessional divers.
Theearthquake of January 12, 2010, that left thousands ofHaitians dead or homeless and hungry, rocked Haiti's main port ofPort-au-Prince. Shockwaves sent the port's busy northern pier and its two massive cargo cranes sinking into the sea. The harbor was littered with toppled shipping containers. The southern pier was sheared from its concrete support pilings. The U.S. military worked with Haitian authorities to offload seaborne humanitarian aid and commercial cargo as it helped run the port. At the heart of its plans was an effort to repair the remains of the southern pier, leaving Haiti with a vital avenue for humanitarian aid and commerce.
Depending on situation they may use:Diving helmets used forsurface-supplied diving, orFull-face diving masks used with surface supplied and scuba equipment orScuba diving equipment is generally used for dives requiring high mobility.
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.
In theUnited States Army, engineer divers are members of theCorps of Engineers. In theBritish Army, they may be Royal Engineer Divers or Commando Engineer Divers.
In theBritish Army, theCorps of Royal Engineers has a specialist role of Royal Engineer Diver dating back to 1838 under ColonelCharles William Pasley. They are trained atHorsea Island alongsideRoyal Navy divers for the tasks required of an engineer diver, such as underwater thermic lance cutting, concreting and demolition.[1] In addition, the reserveCommando Engineer Divers of131 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers, a part of the24 Commando Engineer Regiment Dive Team, are trained as divers to the same standards.[2]
Deep sea divers have been a part of the United States Army since theSpanish–American War. In 1898, they constructed acofferdam around theUSS Maine (ACR-1) to facilitate the ship's inspection and determine the cause of its sinking. Later, during World War I, Army divers built and inspected bridges, tunnels, and port facilities.
As part of the U.S. Army Port Construction and Repair Groups, U.S. Army divers operated throughout theEuropean andPacific theaters during World War II. Divers performed salvage, demolition, pier construction, and bridging support. As part of theNormandy landings, U.S. Army divers participated in operations atUtah Beach. They were also employed in rebuilding the port ofCherbourg following its capture. Later they were employed to reopen theAlbert Canal fromLiège toAntwerp, and assisted in the construction of the first Allied railroad bridge across theRhine River, while in thePhilippines, they undertook salvage operations in various ports and rivers.
During theKorean War, Army engineer divers worked with Port Construction Companies to build and maintain pipelines in the ports ofInchon andPohang, and reconstruct the locks in the port of Inchon. Later, during theVietnam War, Army divers constructed ship-to-shore petroleum distribution and port facilities inCam Rahn Bay andQui Nhon; they also constructed ammunition piers, and conducted body, helicopter and vehicle recoveries throughout the theater.
In 1989 duringOperation Just Cause, U.S. Army divers from the536th Engineer Battalion 7th Dive Detachment performed base security atHoward Air Force Base and conducted body recover ofMIA pilots and aircraftOH-58 salvage operations in thePanama Canal.
In 1991 duringOperation Desert Storm, divers deployed to Kuwait to engage in recovery operations after the ground war, clearing the Kuwaiti port ofShuaibah by removing debris and damaged Kuwaiti and Iraqi boats from the port.
Since then, U.S. Army divers have also supported port opening and reconstruction efforts in military operations in Somalia and Haiti. After 2002, U.S. Army divers have been continuously deployed foreword to theCENTCOM area of operations, includingIraq,Afghanistan, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Jordan. In these areas, U.S. Army divers have provided commanders on the battlefield with maneuver support, conducting operations such as search and recovery, river reconnaissance, construction and repair, demolition, salvage, port clearance and security, ships husbandry, andhydrographic surveys.
Army engineer divers continue to represent the vast capabilities of the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment by providing expeditionary engineer diving capabilities in support of combat, general, and geo-spatial engineer across the full spectrum of U.S. military operations worldwide. Throughout the history of their employment in the U.S. Army, divers have been organized under various commands and units, ranging from Engineer Port Construction to Transportation Support Commands. Currently, they are organized into five detachments (74th Engineer Dive Detachment, 86th Engineer Dive Detachment, 511th Engineer Dive Detachment, 569th Engineer Dive Detachment) atJoint Base Langley–Eustis, Virginia, and one detachment (7th Engineer Dive Detachment) atJoint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. Throughout the various conflicts in which Army divers have been employed, they have trained and fought alongside counterparts from theUS Navy. Therefore, the co-location at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center is a fitting representation of their intertwined and storied history.
Army Divers are trained at theNaval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) inPanama City, Florida.
Badges are awarded according to Humans Resource Command (HRC) and theDiver insignia regulations.
 | This sectionis inlist format but may read better asprose. You can help byconverting this section, if appropriate.Editing help is available.(October 2012) |
The physical fitness test consists of the following carried out in the order given:[citation needed]
