European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 24, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday february 24, 1990 the stars and stripes Page 9 s45 Gui san Jet h spec. Henry c. Harrison of co a 78th engr in combat tightens chains on 20-ton Earth moving machines near an Selv. Norway. During exercise array encounter. With 20-ton gear unit plays the heavies b Ron Jensen staff writer an Selv. Norway when soldiers of co c. 78lh engr in combat hit the Road they have enough equipment w us them to build and maintain that Road. We re the biggest thing they have to  said Apt baud by Mulcy. Commander of the company that is pan of the Allied t omd Europe Mobile Force. The Ace Mobile Force is holding exercise array encounter so this month in Northern Norway. To move the Force s Engineer support from its base in telling in. West Germany to 250 Miles above the Arctic Circle required eight cargo aircraft and one ship. In All. The company moved 133 men and 50 Large pieces of equipment plus various pieces of smaller equipment. We re the Only rapid deployment Engineer company in  Brinkley said. We re the Only rapid deployment mechanized unit in the . Army to Sec the equipment is to wonder How rapidly it can be deployed anywhere. Some pieces weigh 20 tons. The machines seem Loo Bulky to be moved at anything faster than the Highway Pace of a Bulldozer. But the a e to bile Force is multinational and designed to get to Poten tial trouble spots in a hurry. Brinkley said the secret is practice which his company receives in abundance. I be been in command since May. And we be done nine air movements one sea movement and 15 to 20 rail  he said. I enjoy it. It keeps us Busy. We left re forger the return of forces to Germany exercise and had four Days to gel ready for  the company s chores for the Ace Mobile Force include placing mines and obstacles building tank ditches and maintaining roads. For this exercise a primary chore was expected to be Snow removal. A mild Arctic Winter has made that unnecessary. C o c picked up some tips from its norwegian counterparts. One of the most important lessons was How 10 be pulled behind vehicles while wearing skis which is faster and More fun than walking. They arc really  Brinkley said of the hosts. Ii was like the ice  when he americans first tried it. He said it was More like a comedy on ice. Brinkley s men soon picked up the Lech Niqui however. Once you get Good at it. It s a fairly easy Way to get  he said. The norwegians taught the visitors other ways to use the climate to their advantage. Brinkley pointed out a Lake on the map. The Road around the Lake bends and twists along the Shoreline. Once the Lake freezes the Road goes like  Brinkley said tracing a path directly across the Cen Ter of the Lake. The norwegians know How to reinforce the ice so that it makes a passable Road. The unit had some Earls trouble with ils equip ment in the cold climate of the Arctic Circle. The norwegians helped there too. Suggesting that the americans Burn a mixture of kerosene and diesel fuel in the machines instead of straight diesel. Now that we have that in our vehicles Icv re running i lot  Brinkley said. When we first tame up Here with straight diesel from Germany it was like pumping glue through  Sas Ous Scanu ii Cape. David Brinkley third from left holds a briefing outside the unit s Field Headquarters in Northern Nona. From left Are sgt. Charles l. Denio spec a Henrj c. Harrison Canadian . Crai j flood and sri. Ray on ale