MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Military combat engineers have used a variety of symbols to communicate an image of unity and strength while identifying and distinguishing themselves from fellow servicemembers.

Marine combat engineers have adopted the traditional turreted-castle symbol as an important visual representation of the long history and significance of their job specialty dating back to the 19th century.

A few weeks ago, the Marine engineers of Marine Wing Support Squadron 373 began a project to construct this castle symbol in front of their squadron.

"A key symbol in the combat engineer community is the engineer castle," said 1st Lt. Ricky A. Nail, officer-in-charge, MWSS-373. "Since we have engineers in our squadron and part of our mission as an MWSS is basic engineering, our commanding officer wanted a castle built in front of his headquarters."

He explained that the castle would tell anyone visiting or passing by his command that engineers have a large footprint in the squadron.

While there are many other equally important military occupation specialties represented in the support squadrons, the engineering function is an underlying or enabling function for many of the other functional areas of aviation ground support. The castle is a fitting symbol for the basic engineering mission that is involved with creating and operating forward operating bases for Marine aviation, added the Middleburg, Fla. native.

The idea was presented to the squadron's drafting and survey section, which then began overall planning for the castle project.

"(DSS) took the idea and ran with it," Nail explained. "The plans they generated were extremely detailed, all the way down to the cut list, brick by brick and layer by layer."

With the plans in hand, Marines from the squadron's construction platoon began work on the castle.

"We even worked together on a few weekends to cut the bricks, do a dry assembly and put it together with mortar before the final cleaning stage," said Lance Cpl. Derek W. Ceglowski, engineer, MWSS-373, and a native of Bottineau, N.D.

"Right now we're putting the finishing touches on the castle," said Pfc. Shawn P. McNamara, engineer, MWSS-373, and a Boston native.

"After we chisel off excess mortar and clean it up with an acid bath, we'll attach a plaque and the wood doors to the front, and then it will be done," he added.

Nail said MWSS-373 plans to hold a ceremony to unveil the castle and dedicate it to the squadron.