Power Distribution Specialists Light Up Navajo Nation

By Chief Warrent Officer 2 Xacha Ruiz, Delta Company, 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power)

Delta Company, 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power), completed one of its most meaningful and technically demanding annual training missions during Light Up Navajo Nation VII, a 45 day effort conducted across the Dilkon District and the Leupp Community of the Navajo Nation. What began as a standard training requirement quickly grew into a mission that strengthened Soldier proficiency, expanded professional partnerships, and provided lasting benefits to families who had waited years for access to reliable electricity.

Unlike typical U.S. Army Reserve annual training events, usually centered on controlled scenarios and predictable task lists, this mission placed Soldiers directly into real utility construction alongside the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority. Under the leadership of NTUA General Manager Mr. Walter Hasse, with direct coordination from Mrs. Paulette Wauneka and Mrs. Shannon Burnette, assistant managers from NTUA, Delta Company, integrated seamlessly into ongoing electrification efforts. Families in remote areas depended on the work performed by the unit’s three platoons, making every electrical utility pole set, conductor installed, and transformer mounted an action with real-world consequence. By mission’s end, more than 260 electrical utility poles were installed, far surpassing the original 170 pole scope, and over 40 homes gained the ability to receive power for the first time.

Readiness Through Real-World Execution

For 12Q, Power Distribution Specialists, LUN VII offered a rare opportunity to execute the full breadth of their MOS skills in an operational setting. Soldiers performed pole framing, pole setting, hardware installation, conductor pulling, wire sagging, transformer placement, grounding tasks, installation of meters, and hot-line tool operations, all under NTUA utility standards. This level of realism is typically impossible during a standard AT. Delta Company Power Line Platoons successfully validated more than 80 percent of its Mission Essential Task List, an achievement that had never been reached during previous training cycles. Under the guidance of Delta Company Commander Capt. Juan Peralta and Project Manager, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Xacha Ruiz, Soldiers logged more than 4,800 labor hours with zero accidents, demonstrating disciplined safety practices while accomplishing technically complex tasks in austere terrain.

The desert environment presented uneven terrain, volcanic rock, long travel distances, and extreme temperature swings, conditions that forced Soldiers to adapt quickly and strengthened their operational resilience. The mission became a model for how real-world service can elevate readiness to levels no training site can replicate.

Three Platoons, One Mission

1st Platoon: Establishing Early Momentum

Under Sgt. 1st. Class Michael Guajardo, 1st Platoon launched the mission despite delayed contracted equipment. They initiated service-drop work, staged materials, and surged productivity once bucket trucks and digger derricks arrived. Installing 86 poles, 40 main-line, 27 secondary, and 19 service-drop, they placed the mission well ahead of schedule and built the foundation required for follow-on platoons.

2nd Platoon: Expanding Production Capacity

2nd Platoon, led by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Herbert Quarterman as the officer in charge and Sgt. 1st. Class Patrick Miller as NCOIC, accelerated operations by forming two fully capable line crews supported by NTUA linemen. Their structured daily workflow enabled the installation of 94 poles, 43 main-line, 41 secondary-line, and 10 service-drops supporting 10 households.

3rd Platoon: Completing and Expanding the Mission

3rd Platoon, under Sgt. 1st. Class Sean Manley, completed the final 24 poles required to finish the original scope. Impressed by the unit’s professionalism, NTUA requested expanded support.

The platoon executed a new 57 pole main line with three transformers intended to support future residential growth. Despite equipment breakdowns and difficult rocky terrain, the platoon completed the added scope ahead of schedule and with high technical accuracy.

Human Impact: More Than Infrastructure

The mission’s most meaningful outcome was its impact on families who gained access to electricity for the first time. In many homes, the ability to power a refrigerator, turn on lights, pump water, or connect medical equipment represents a life-changing improvement. For Soldiers, watching a meter energizes a home for the first time created a powerful connection between their technical skills and the real people they serve. These moments reminded Soldiers that readiness is not simply a measure of technical proficiency, it is the ability to deliver essential capabilities that directly improve lives.

Strengthening Partnerships

The success of LUN VII was anchored in daily collaboration with NTUA. NTUA Journeyman linemen, apprentices, and managers worked alongside Soldiers, providing mentorship, guidance, equipment support, and expertise on material handling. This partnership ensured that all completed work aligned with civilian standards and laid the groundwork for continued cooperation in future years.

Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities

The mission highlighted areas for improvement, including strengthening equipment contracting timelines, ensuring reliable maintenance support, and standardizing ARC-rated PPE and climbing gear for all 12Qs. Addressing these issues will increase efficiency and safety for future rotations.

Perhaps most importantly, the mission created opportunities for broader Army Reserve engagement. The success of this operation demonstrated how additional units, including construction engineers, medics, and veterinary teams, could support the Navajo Nation in future years.

Conclusion

Light Up Navajo Nation VII became more than an AT; it became a milestone for Delta Company. Under the leadership of NTUA partners, TEC leadership, and battalion and company leaders, Soldiers demonstrated that service and readiness can come together to create a lasting impact. Their technical skills improved, their partnerships strengthened, and dozens of families now have access to electricity. The legacy of this mission will shape future rotations and deepen the Army Reserve’s connection with the Navajo Nation for years to come.

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