Alaska National Guard’s Counter Drug Support program shown the ropes

Photo By 1st Lt. Marisa Lindsay | Sgt. Elijah Gutierrez, a team leader with C Company, 297th Long Range Surveillance Squadron, Alaska Army National Guard, and Staff Sgt. Oliver Meza, a platoon sergeant with C Company, 297th Long Range Surveillance Squadron, Alaska Army National Guard, lean on one another for balance during the high-V portion of the Encourage, Encounter and Experience Challenge Course at Camp Carroll, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, June 30, 2016. The purpose of the E3 Challenge Course is to support the community outreach mission of the Alaska National Guard’s Counter Drug Support Program by assisting law enforcement agencies, community based organizations, local schools and youth programs. (U.S. Army National Guard photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Dayton Will)  

AK, UNITED STATES

07.07.2016

Courtesy Story

Alaska National Guard Public Affairs   

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska —A group of 16 Guard members and professionals from the Alaska Army National Guard, Alaska Air National Guard and Anchorage-based community organizations completed a six-day training course to become certified facilitators for the Encourage, Encounter and Experience Challenge course on Camp Carroll, June 26 through July 1.

The purpose of the E3 Challenge Course is to support the community outreach mission of the Alaska National Guard’s Counter Drug Support Program by assisting law enforcement agencies, community based organizations, local schools and youth programs.

The course focuses on the core measures of communication, planning, teamwork, problem solving, decision-making, individual sense-of-self, perception of harm and summary of learning. There are several high and low elements of the course that act as tools to increase these skills.

For example, the power pole portion of the high-ropes course requires participants to rely on their team to secure their safety ropes as they jump from the pole, three stories above ground.

“We are very excited about having this available to the community,” explained Sgt. Austin Makowski, a team leader with C Company, Long Range Surveillance Squadron and the assistant course manager for the training. “It’s a great resource to build cohesion among teams in community groups, and to help the Alaska National Guard become closer to the community we serve.”

Brought in to instruct the course were Colin Koach and Kevin Trump of Team Synergo, an adventure education company based in Tigard, Oregon.

Koach was surprised to learn that the Counter-Drug Support Program facilitates the E3 course free-of-charge to the community.

“Not many organizations are able to participate in a program like this because normally it’s very expensive to enlist in this kind of training,” Koach said. “If you’re hesitant about participating, it’s a unique opportunity to see yourself and your team in ways you wouldn’t otherwise be able to.”

The E3 Challenge Course, which is funded by National Guard Bureau, is available to organizations in the community as a leadership training tool. Groups who previously participated include Family Programs with the Alaska National Guard, the Alaska Military Youth Academy and the Anchorage School District.

The E3 Challenge Course will begin booking two- and three-day customized camps for community organizations and groups starting July 5th. Interested parties should contact the assistant course manager, Sgt. Austin Makowski, at 428-6656.

• Date Taken: 07.07.2016
• Date Posted: 07.07.2016 14:30
• Story ID: 203324
• Location: AK, US