U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deploys Team in Support of Operation United Assistance to Liberia

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) deployed a team with engineering and engineering-related expertise to Liberia in support of Operation United Assistance, which is part of the comprehensive U.S. Government Ebola effort in West Africa led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The team is a Forward Engineering Support Team (FEST) from our North Atlantic Division (NAD) consisting of personnel with expertise in the areas of engineering, environmental, and prime power. The team will help support the construction of Ebola Treatment Units (ETU) at site locations chosen by the Government of Liberia Ministry of Health and the Armed Forces of Liberia. This support will allow for the construction of multiple ETUs to further assist in the containment of the Ebola virus. Additionally, the USACE civilians and military personnel that deployed will assist with the construction planning, surveying, and design of life-support and logistics facilities in Senegal and Liberia.

The team will remain in Liberia until their mission is deemed complete by USAID. Additionally, USACE will liaise with key elements providing support to Operation United Assistance to facilitate planning the capabilities required for the successful completion of our mission.

USACE deploys experts from our FESTs and prime power battalion (249th Engineer Battalion), worldwide, in support of military and contingency operations, installations, disasters, training exercises, and the National Response Framework. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is one of many federal entities supporting the comprehensive U.S. Government effort to help the West African nations contain the outbreak of the Ebola virus.