Camp William Hinds, training ground for Guardsmen and Reservists

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Elizabeth Gilbert | Member of the 136th Civil Engineer Squadron, Texas Air National Guard along with U.S. Navy Reservist from the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 27, seabees train and collaborate together to build a dining facility for the Boy Scouts of America, Camp William Hinds, Raymond Maine, July 14, 2015. Both teams learn invaluable training during their annual two-week deployed for training.  

RAYMOND, ME, UNITED STATES

07.15.2015

Story by 1st Lt. Danielle Devoto 

136th Airlift Wing (Texas Air National Guard)

RAYMOND, Maine – Robert Smiley, principal director for readiness, training, and mobilization, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, personnel and readiness, visited the Boy Scouts of America, Camp William Hinds, Raymond, Maine, to observe the progress on the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) projects, July 15, 2015.

IRT is a program developed by the Department of Defense where service members can sharpen their skills by working on different projects for underserved communities throughout the country.

For Smiley, the IRT provides a unique environment for what he considers is the most important aspect of the program: Training.

“This is great training we wouldn’t have gotten at any other place,” Smiley emphasized. “That’s the reason we do it.”

A team from the 136th Civil Engineer Squadron, Texas Air National Guard deployed for training to Camp Hinds to work on several of the IRT projects for their two-week-long annual training, along with U.S. Navy Reservists from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 27.

Senior Airman Lenston Elliott, structure shop, said, “This annual training was the perfect one for the structures shop because it literally had every aspect of my career field. This was perfect."

During his visit, Smiley spoke with several of the Airmen and Seabees to get some feedback on the IRT program.

“As one of the troops told us this morning, what he liked about it was that he gets to see an end product,” recalled Smiley. “I think there’s a lot of job satisfaction for the sailors, Airmen and Marines that get to do this. So that is great value.”

Smiley noted that the IRT is a win-win for both the service members, who get invaluable training, and for the communities, who wouldn’t have the means to complete these projects. The Airmen appreciate that aspect, as well.

“When I found out we were building a Boy Scouts’ camp, I thought that was very cool,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Wheeler, structure shop. “I like knowing that our efforts are going towards something that is going to be used in the future and that kids will benefit from it.”

While discussing future plans for the IRT, Smiley said he doesn’t foresee this program going away anytime soon.

“It’s in the program budget going forward. It will vary up and down.” said Smiley. “Sequester has had an impact on it, but I think it has enough support, because of the training value we get out of it and because of the local interest. This will go forward in some flavor.”

• Date Taken: 07.15.2015
• Date Posted: 07.17.2015 14:51
• Story ID: 170365
• Location: RAYMOND, ME, US
• Hometown: ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MD, US
• Hometown: DALLAS, TX, US
• Hometown: FORT DIX, NJ, US
• Hometown: FORT WORTH, TX, US
• Hometown: RAYMOND, ME, US