History of the Sapper Thomas J. Rivera 91l30 EN ALC 004-14 Abstract The history of the United States Army Sapper dates back to the early 16th century. They were first used by the French to dig positions and trenches to ward off enemy forces and provide reprieve during long wars. The name Sapper came from the French word “sapeur” which meant trench or spadework. They were on the front lines of nearly all the American wars from The American Revolution to the present Global War on Terrorism. To become a Sapper in the United States (US) Army is no simple task various skills are needed along with schooling and vigorous test. Throughout history the US Army Sappers proved to be an essential part in the victory of all the wars …show more content…
fought in the past three hundred years that the United States were involved in. Sappers bring to the fight so much more than a average Combat Engineer (a soldier who performs a variety of construction and demolition tasks under combat conditions). They bring knowledge and expertise to a given combat situation and determine the correct course of action. Weather dealing with explosives, breaching a building, or small unit tactics. They are considered leaders and professional in their field and carry the history of all before them and the knowledge they have learned. The find a solution and react to whatever situation that are giving with precision and expertise. Whether disposing of explosive, breaching a building or leading a platoon of Soldiers into battle. This is the history of the United States Army Sapper. History of the Sapper The history of the United States Sappers begins its origin in France in the early 1500s.
It all began around 1501 when the French enlisted a new type of infantry men called ‘sapeur d'infanterie’ also know as trench infantry. Their job back then was not as glorious to the front line as it is today. They were enlisted as hard laborers, sent in wave after wave to clear obstacles on the battle field so that the army following could march through to engage in battle. While the bulk of the army prepared for battles in camps the ‘sapeur d’infanterie’ would be preparing the battle field by digging entrenchments to protect the archers behind the hand to hand combatants of the French …show more content…
Army. When approaching an enemy fortress the French trench infantry would again be sent to the front line to hack away at the enemy’s fortress doors with nothing but axes and picks. Some looked at those who were part of the trench infantry and thought of them as no more than dumb brutes good for nothing but beating on door and clearing the battlefield. But as time progressed on the French realized the importance of their ‘sapeurs’. Through the times the French utilized the ‘sapeurs’ in more and more ways that further dictate how the developed who they are and what they do today. With advancements in technology and utilization of gun powder, small arms, and artillery the newly founded ‘sapeurs’ will ever more be etched in the stones of history. By the 1700s the use of the ‘sapeur’ has now been utilized in all around the world to include the new world.
Times were getting hard in the new world and the American Revolution was at hand. The man that was put in charge of the newly utilized ‘sapeurs’ was none other then French General Duportail, and was given the title of Commandant of the Continental Army Corps of Engineers. Due to his experience as a Frenchmen he knew what need to be taught to his new formed companies. Duportail said unto the Congress that he need three companies of; the now titled Sappers and Miners, to be trained in military engineering. This was a big step in the military at this present time. This was the first time that the US Army would be giving Soldiers schooling for their field. For two years they would recruit and train new enlistees in the art of Army engineering. By March 11, 1779 Congressed passed a resolve to change the Continental Army to the Corps of
Engineers. In October 1781 in Yorktown 50 men of the Sapper and Miner companies, along with 13 Officers assembled fortification materials, erected gun platforms, transported cannons and ammunition, and cleared the way for the decisive infantry assault, along with performing crucial reconnaissance. This was the Sapper and Miner Companies of the Corps of Engineers finest hour of the American Revolution.
The United States Army has been a leader in military prowess on the world stage since its inception in 1775, and with such a record, it is reasonably assumed that there must be solid foundation within the organization working to maintain the high level of performance. The Noncommissioned Officer Corps is one institution within the Army that serves as a large portion of this foundation that makes it the fighting force that it has always been, and the noncommissioned officers have been an integral piece since the very inception of the Army. The Prussian General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, organizer of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps, encapsulated this idea when he coined the noncommissioned officer (NCO) as the backbone of the Army. (Arms, 1991) In an Army that is continuously adjusting to world around it while maintaining its status as the military leader to all other nations, the Noncommissioned Officer Corps has always provided the platform for continuity through a growing rank system based on its original core, an evolving training program to develop effective leaders, and a creed that moves us forward while remembering the rich history of the corps that came before us.
The conception of the idea to establish a special elite unit in the Army and the subsequent implementation took place between March and July 1942. This period was characterized by extensive research by a British scientist and extensive analysis by United States commanders. The special unit started their training in Montana at Fort William Henry Harrison before moving to other areas such as Camp Bradford and Fort Ethan Allen in Vermont. The forces lasted for the period between July 1942 and December 19441. The unit had three battalions made up of Canadian and American volunteers who engaged in intensive training in skiing, parachuting, amphibian warfare, mountain and demolition operations among other specialized skills. The elite forces were distinct, from their bi-national uniform to their specialized fighting skills. The soldiers engaged in war in Italy and Southern France before their disbandment late 19441.
On December of 1992, U.S. troops landed in Somalia. It was Thomas E. Ricks’ first deployment as a Pentagon Reporter. Opening the beginning chapter, he speaks of his first-hand experience he encountered while traveling with a squad from Alpha Company of the 1st battalion of the 7th Marines. Exceptionally qualified, his work on Making The Corps was cited by Thomas E. Ricks himself. Few events were videotaped, and some related by several participants and observers. Thoughts of Platoon 3086 and military documentations, such as “Recruit Incident Reports” and “Recruit Evaluation Cards”, were used as well to get an inside feel of the way recruits and Drill Instructors see Boot Camp.
Staff Sergeant (SSGT) Louis Moeller shaped me into the Recon Marine I wanted to be and the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) that I am now. By embodying the Recon Creed and always setting the example, he made me want to be an NCO that my troops would look up to and want to follow. Even when not in charge he was constantly the one peers and junior Marines alike, turned to for guidance and inspiration. To this day, I still find myself asking “What would Louis do?” when confronted with a leadership dilemma.
Colonel Mathew Moten once said, “Professions are not professions simply because they say they are. Their clients, society as a whole, have to accept their claims and trust the professions with jurisdiction over important areas of human endeavor”.
"The soldier is the Army. No army is better than its soldiers. The Soldier is also a citizen. In fact, the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country” (-General George S. Patton Jr). Here within our borders we are the lucky ones, we have been blessed with the pleasure of so many brave men and women; to volunteer in the world's greatest military; and put their lives on the line for something that they believe is a moral obligation. But, think of some other countries, that have conscription (the practice of ordering people by law to serve in the armed forces) laws. We as a nation have some laws on conscription, and if you are male and above the age of 18 you have already signed the slip of paper stating that in the time of war; if our great nation re-instated the draft then there is a great chance you will be serving on the frontline of the next Great War. This brings me to my first topic of this page, is it ethical to have a draft? My second topic that I will discuss will be on if it is morally acceptable to "draft dodge". What I mean on the second topic is if you have a right; that morally allows you to not go fight in the war.
I wasn’t phased much at first , but then my fiancee decided she did no want to be with me. I sold cars for a short time and was very good but I got sick and with no health insurance and It was just too much to struggle through. I then was out of work for almost two years with exception of army reserve which earned me basically nothing with child support. My credit and all my bills went to straight hell and soon I was homeless. I slept in my car. I then decided to ask reserve for release to go full time active which was a chore in itself. This was a mass of red tape and paperwork. I got in best shape possible and finally at age 42 went back in the army, the infantry no less. For some reason the people in the army can be less than fond of a guy that age going to
Trench warfare was introduced in order to bring a barrier between forces. They were dug by soldiers and were very lengthy, but very cramped. Soldiers crouched down for extended periods of time to keep their heads blocked from being a target for the other side. They sat their watching their friends die from disease and from being shot, bombed, or poison gassed while they waited to fire their weapons at the enemy.
... much faster work pace environment. The position required me to attend many military courses and I’ve conducted real live missions and gained important tactical skills from each experiences. I would encourage any Chemical Operation Specialist in the Army to be a part of these units at some point in their career. It stands to benefit them in their career and help them to become a better rounded soldier.
“Why would you want to interview me when there are plenty of people back home that would be easier to interview in person?” asks John Stout. He is about 5’11, has dark black hair and his eyes are a rich chocolaty brown. He is tan and has a strong muscular body. John is currently deployed in Bagram Afghanistan. He departed on July 7th, 2016 and will not return until April of 2017. He grew up in Fort Ripley, MN and graduated from Brainerd High School in 2014. John is very close with his Mother, Father, Brother and Sister. He grew up with a wrench in his hand and always helped his Father work on project cars and fixing things around the house. To John, family is everything. His family always took vacations and every summer, he gets to travel around the United States for Army training. John grew up in a military family. His Father works as a Warrant Officer in the Minnesota National Guard and his Brother, Curtis, is in the Marine Corps and is also deployed right now.John has always wanted to serve his country
The First World War introduced a new type of warfare. New weapons were combined with old strategies and tactics. Needless to say, the results were horrific. However, a new type of warfare was introduced: trench warfare. In the movie War Horse, the character that owned the horse originally while he worked on his farm, Albert Narracott, finally was old enough to join the army. His first sight of battle was the Battle of Somme which took place in France near the Somme River. During this battle, the British troops start out in trenches, which were pretty much tunnels dug strategically to avoid gunfire. The soldiers would wait until they were told to advance, and they would run from one trench to the next. Trenches and the area between trenches were muddy and the trenches themselves were poorly conditioned (http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/chapters/ch1_trench.html). Many of the soldiers who fought in trenches succumbed to a foot disease called trench foot and if not treated immediately, gangrene could infect the foot and an amputation would be necessary for survival. Commanding officers ordered one or t...
A soldier is an enlist individual, man or woman that fight in the military for his or her country. There are numerous reason has to what it means to be a good soldier. Being a good soldier varies depending on the individual. A good solider lives up to the army values, which are duty which is to fulfill your obligations by being able to accomplish tasks as part of a team, loyalty n being able to bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit and other soldiers, honor, being able to give up to Army values, integrity, do what’s right, legally and morally, personal courage, face fear, danger or adversity (physical or moral, selfless service, being able to put the welfare of the nation, the Army and your subordinates before your own and respect, being able to treat people as they should be treated
Many young inexperienced soldiers were sent to training camps near the battle fields that they would soon be sent to fight, for their country and their life. The training camps were situated on similar enviroments that resembled the battle fields of where the fighting would take place. Reinforced displine to the young and ignorant men. Trench warfare is when many soldiers of opposing countries fight against each other across a vast desolate, dirt covered land, and the only sense of cover was to crouch in a usually water logged trench. The sense of death engulfed your very soul, the constant bombardment of shells echo in your mind long after it had ceased.
It’s no question that the military has changed over the years. Basic Combat Training has not changed for 30 years until the millennial generation, but why? The older generation says that the newer generation has become too soft and they made Basic Combat Training easier; the new generation thinks otherwise. Basic Combat Training Is still hard and the military never did get weaker but something did happen.
Before I describe to you some of the “routine” and specific situations, investigations, and actual cases and dispositions I encountered I feel I should outline some of the training that that I received starting with the Military Police and Basic Training. Looking back I see the importance of the initial Army training that centered on physical conditioning and the discipline necessary to obey and follow orders to become part of a team. We learned that what was good for one was good for all and of course the reverse. Each morning we stood inspection outside of the barracks with our field packs on. Part of our required equipment during the inspections was a razor. We found out why one morning at the beginning of our training cycle when one of