Warrant candidates assist community

Photo By Sgt. Daryl Sanford | Warrant Officer Candidate John Pesta pushes in pea rocks to fill a post hole during a Habitat for Humanity project in Little Falls, Minn.  

LITTLE FALLS, UNITED STATES

08.28.2009

Story by Sgt. Daryl Sanford 

Minnesota National Guard

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. -- Candidates from the Warrant Officer Candidate Course from Camp Ripley, Minn., assisted with building a fence, Aug. 22, in Little Falls. The fence, part of a Habitat for Humanity, Morrison County project, will be used to provide a safe play area for a child with autism.

"It is just wonderful," said Tonya Mahlock, who owns the house. "It is pretty awesome to see everything get into place."

Local business donated the materials and construction expertise, and the candidates provided the labor.

The project is part of the WOCS-RC course, in which the candidates participate in a project to give back to the community, according to CWO3 Tina Stalboerger, course manager, Warrant Officer Candidate Course.

"The course isn't just about going to class, and it isn't just about military stuff," she said. "The candidates are looked at by the community as experts, as the best. This is just one way to show that."

Besides giving back to the community, it also tests other skills they learned in the course, such as preparation, teamwork and technical skills.

"It is also to make sure they can work from the [operation] order they created," she said.

This project is just one of several choices presented to the candidates. But for Warrant Officer Candidate Chad Gould, it was an easy choice.

"I have helped with Habitat for Humanity before, and my wife had volunteered for other projects as well," said Gould, who is the project officer for the exercise.

"It is close, easy to set up, and several of the candidates have construction experience," he said. "We wanted to do something worthwhile, and when we saw this job, we saw that it was perfect for us."

"I appreciate all the work that is being done," said Mahloch. "I am very thankful."

• Date Taken: 08.28.2009
• Date Posted: 08.28.2009 16:29
• Story ID: 38093
• Location: LITTLE FALLS, US