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Engineers use singing to beat heat

  • Published
  • By Spc. Amber Hoy
  • 314th Public Affairs Operations Center
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  "Blame it all on my roots, I showed up in boots and ruined your black tie affair," sang the soldiers of 1st platoon, 733rd Engineer Company out of Greeneville, Tenn.

The jovial engineers sang a blend of army cadence and country music to keep their morale up in the 120-degree heat index while assembling a 50-person pre-fabricated classroom during exercise Castle Installation Related Construction at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, July 16 through 30.

Castle IRC combines reserve soldiers from the 412th and 416th Theater Engineer Commands to improve training areas on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and give the engineers the opportunity to sharpen their construction skills during their two-week annual training.

The units participating in Castle IRC worked on multiple projects, which were governed by the 416th TEC. The engineers of the 733rd Engineer Company are a subordinate to the 412th TEC.

During training, first platoon adopted their own strategy to stay motivated.

"When the heat index reaches 110 to 120 degrees and the hours get long, it's important to crack some smiles and to lighten the mood with song," said Spc. Christopher R. Doupnik, engineer and motivator of the 733rd Engineer Company.

Leadership can use the singing to gauge who has been in the heat too long.

"When someone doesn't participate, that tells us something is wrong and they might need to take a seat in the shade," said Staff Sgt. David J. Kunter, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the worksite. "Singing makes the work easier like running to cadence. If you are not thinking about how much is left, you run harder and farther."

The singing also helps the engineers clear their minds and concentrate on the task at hand.

"My father, a retired first sergeant, died unexpectedly the Wednesday before we left for JB MDL. Singing with the platoon helps me stay motivated and focused on the task," said Kunter.

Even though classroom construction began two days later than expected, the platoon still completed the building on schedule because of the leadership and Soldiers ability to work together.

"It's like a family," said Spc. Doupnik, who jokingly wears a bird feather in his yellow hardhat. "I wrestled in high school and this is the closest thing to that camaraderie. Everyone understands the task. So you do not have to tell people what to do. They already know."

In addition, some lower enlisted volunteered to stay late and took it upon themselves to be proactive. This helped construction stay on schedule, according to Kunter.

Motivation at the site ran high even when the heat reached its highest at Castle IRC. The temperature only encourage the platoon to belt out the chorus louder, "Now I'm not big on social graces, think I'll slip on down to the oasis, oh I got friends, in low places."