Paper No. 7
Presentation Time: 9:30 AM

SO YOU WANT TO BE A GEOLOGIST - MILITARY ASPECTS OF THE TERRAIN


JENS, John C., US Army Corps of Engineers, Army Geospatial Center, 9302 Alexa Ct, Manassas Park, VA 20111, jcjens@earthlink.net

The US Army Corps of Engineers employs varieties of geology related skills. From geotechnical to hydrologist to environmental restorationists to geospatial engineers, a "pure" geologist is difficult to find. There are a variety of ways one can put geologic information to use in the resolution of the many challenges facing this nation for which the Corps of Engineers has responsibility to address. If one is looking for a real challenge a geologist on active duty opens a whole new relm on the imaginative use of ones geology skills. R.A.F. Penrose in his 1917 booklet, "Things a Geologist Can Do in War'" lists eight ways to do as the title says. Plus, he offers a unique qualification why a geologist can "go to war." Most of these are still true today, just the tools used have changed. Image analysis and interpretation play a large role in geospatial engineering, in traditional-speak topographic engineering. However, geology degreed individuals have found interesting niches through out the US Army - Acitve, Reserve, National Guard. The only limitations are imagination, flexibility, and desire to pursue a particular career direction.