Home / Media / News Stories

HotInfo

A NEW CHAPTER: Transatlantic Division transfers mission to Southwestern Division For continued updates on our mission, please visit The Southwestern Division's official website at đź”— https://www.swd.usace.army.mil/

Routine preventive maintenance is the key to stability

Published Jan. 16, 2019
Generator overhaul mechanic performs a magnaflux test on the engine block for generator #306, 4th Brigade, 203rd Corps, FOB Shank, as part of a generator Blanket Purchase Agreement major overhaul.
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 1 of 3

Generator overhaul mechanic performs a magnaflux test on the engine block for generator #306, 4th Brigade, 203rd Corps, FOB Shank, as part of a generator Blanket Purchase Agreement major overhaul.

Generator overhaul mechanic disassembles an exhaust system on generator #298, 8th SOK, FOB Shank, as part of a generator Blanket Purchase Agreement major overhaul.
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 2 of 3

Generator overhaul mechanic disassembles an exhaust system on generator #298, 8th SOK, FOB Shank, as part of a generator Blanket Purchase Agreement major overhaul.

USACE Operations and Maintenance contractor, under CSTC-A funding checks the electrical system in Barracks 2 of the Special Operations Kandak or Battalion new compound at Forward Operating Base Shank.
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 3 of 3

USACE Operations and Maintenance contractor, under CSTC-A funding checks the electrical system in Barracks 2 of the Special Operations Kandak or Battalion new compound at Forward Operating Base Shank.

PRINT | E-MAIL

USACE along with our Stakeholder Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A) help to maintain long-lasting stability of the construction projects for our Afghan partners through continued and consistent preventive and routine facility support.

Recently at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank a multitude of preventive maintenance inspections took place.

Generator Overhaul Mechanics from our Afghan partners, supported the coalition’s mission to build Afghan capacity, by performing a magnaflux test on an engine block which will determine the integrity of the engine block.

While another mechanic disassembled the exhaust system on another generator. And electrical systems in the barracks received routine preventive maintenance inspections by one of USACE’s Operations and Maintenance contractors.

Routine maintenance is the follow-up to the build of a project which enables the longevity of each completed construction project built throughout the theater, and emphasizes the USACE motto of  “Building Strong”! 


USACE
USACE Afghanistan
FOB
FOB SHANK
CSTC-A

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division serves as USACE’s tip of the spear in one of the most dynamic construction environments in the world, STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS, BUILDING CAPACITY, and ENHANCING SECURITY for our nation, allies, and partners. 

We SAFELY deliver agile, responsive, and innovative, design, construction, engineering and contingency solutions in support of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and other global partners to advance national security interests.

Announcements

LAPSE IN DoW APPROPRIATIONS - Friday, October 3, 2025

The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m. EST on September 30, 2025. Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status without pay until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law. Civilian personnel not engaged in excepted activities will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status.

 

A NEW CHAPTER: - Tuesday, August 5, 2025

On August 5, 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officially realigned mission oversight of USACE operations in support of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command from the Transatlantic Division to the Southwestern Division. This transition ensures continued, focused support to U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command across the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and the Levant. Both the Middle East District and the Transatlantic Expeditionary District remain fully operational and continue delivering engineering solutions that support regional stability and operational readiness. This is a new chapter, not a new identity. The mission – and the USACE legacy – continues.

 

 

  • August

    U.S. Army Col. Craig S. Baumgartner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division commander, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Arroyo, division senior enlisted advisor, and Scott Sawyer, Programs and Business chief, case the division colors during a Transfer of Authority ceremony in Winchester, Virginia, Aug. 5, 2025. The ceremony marked the transition of mission oversight for U.S. Central Command support from the Transatlantic Division to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Southwestern Division.

    USACE realigns division oversight in the Middle East, reinforces its role as the Force Behind the Force for CENTCOM and SOCOM

    In a ceremony steeped in history and symbolic of strategic continuity, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officially transitioned oversight of its critical mission in support of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command from the Transatlantic Division to the Southwestern Division on Aug. 5, 2025.

  • July

    U.S. Army Maj. Gen. David C. Hill, Commandant of the U.S. Army War College and former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division commander, shows off his newly received division coin during a special commemorative event on June 11 at the Transatlantic Division headquarters in Winchester, Va.

    Speaking of History

    In celebration of the 250th birthdays of both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the USACE Transatlantic Division hosted Maj. Gen. David C. Hill, Commandant of the U.S. Army War College and former Transatlantic Division commander, as the keynote speaker for a special commemorative event held June 11 at the division headquarters.

  • June

    U.S. Army Corps of Engineers BUILDING LEGACY graphic utilizing historical photo from Bricks, Sand, Marble publication showing the interior of Dhahran Civil Air Terminal while under construction. (Graphic by Catherine Carroll, USACE public affairs.)

    The Legacy of America's Engineers in the Middle East

    Legacy is not about what is built. It is about what endures. For 250 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has shaped the nation’s strength through engineering. Every district, division, and mission contributes to that legacy, supporting the U.S. Army, serving the public, and building the foundations that carry us forward.

  • April

    Two U.S. military vehicles await delivery following repairs in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Expeditionary District constructed Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility, in the U.S. Central Command area of operations.

    US Army Corps of Engineers delivers readiness capabilities in US Central Command

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the force behind the force, delivering mission-critical infrastructure that sustains and strengthens military readiness in one of the most complex operational environments. Across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, the Army Corps of Engineers designs and constructs facilities that enable U.S. forces to operate, train, and sustain mission readiness. A Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility, or TEMF, sets the standard for sustainment operations. A TEMF is a standardized facility designed to provide the U.S. Army with the necessary infrastructure to maintain, repair, and sustain its equipment.

  • March

    Roger Vogler during his U.S. Army service.

    From Soldier to civilian: An Army engineer’s life-long dedication to those on the front lines

    Roger Vogler’s journey with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is one defined by dedication, experience, and a commitment to supporting Soldiers. Marking 40 years in federal service in February and celebrating 30 years as a licensed Professional Engineer, Vogler – a U.S. Army veteran – reflects on a career that has spanned both military and civilian service and made a lasting impact on the lives of warfighters on the front lines.

  • February

    (U.S. Army photo by Catherine Carroll, USACE Transatlantic Division public affairs.)

    How an Army Engineer is Making an Impact with USACE in CENTCOM

    In the ever-evolving operational landscape of the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stands as a crucial force in strengthening infrastructure, enhancing security, and delivering the engineering support and services essential for sustained military and partner-nation success. For U.S. Army Sergeant Major Alan E. Thomas, Jr., a seasoned Army engineer and project manager currently serving with the Expeditionary District in Kuwait, the experience of working within USACE is proving to be a career defining experience.
  • (U.S. Army photo by Catherine Carroll, USACE Transatlantic Division public affairs.)

    USACE and Kuwait mission partners align on missile facility renovation

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers professionals recently joined Kuwaiti defense leaders and industry partners for a weeklong planning session focused on the renovation of the Kuwait Missile Assembly/Disassembly Facility. Held Jan.19-23, 2025, at the Al Hashemi Marine Museum in Kuwait City, the event brought together representatives from the USACE Kuwait Program Management Office, the U.S. Office of Military Cooperation – Kuwait, the Kuwait Air Defense, Kuwait Ministry of Defence Armament & Procurement Authority and Military Engineering Projects, and private industry partners. The goal of the session was to define the full scope of the renovation project and ensure alignment across all stakeholders, reinforcing Kuwait’s air defense capabilities and overall mission readiness.
  • (U.S. Army photo by Catherine Carroll, USACE Transatlantic Division public affairs.)

    USACE Breaks Ground on Warehouses for Kuwait’s legendary 35th Brigade

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers marked a major milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for a critical infrastructure project in Kuwait, Jan. 21. The $39.9 million initiative will deliver five multi-functional warehouses for Kuwait’s legendary 35th Armored Brigade, reinforcing USACE’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and building capacity for the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense.
  • U.S. Army Lt. Col. Eder C. Ramirez, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Expeditionary District commander, holds the district's new challenge coin before presenting it to selected individuals recognized for excellence at a townhall during District Governance Week in Kuwait, on January 14, 2025.

    Charting Success: Governance Week at USACE’s Tip of the Spear

    In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, success is no accident—it’s the result of careful planning, insightful analysis, and decisive leadership. Sitting at the tip of the USACE spear in Kuwait, the Transatlantic Expeditionary District supports U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command, executing a $520 million dollar program that delivers critical infrastructure and engineering solutions across the region. Once a month, the district’s leaders, directors, and chiefs gathered District Governance Week, an essential event where collaboration meets strategy, and data drives decisions that shape the future.
  • Tanner Cowan, newly licensed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Expeditionary District professional engineer, preparing to travel to a project location in the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.

    USACE Engineer earns PE, strengthening the mission from the frontlines

    Balancing a high-tempo mission in the U.S. Central Command area of operations with the rigorous demands of professional certification, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Expeditionary District engineer Tanner Cowan pushed himself to new heights—earning his Professional Engineer license while actively supporting critical engineering, design, and construction efforts. His achievement not only marks a personal milestone but also enhances USACE’s ability to deliver engineering excellence in one of the world’s most complex operational environments.