Photo By Spc. Miguel Alvarez | U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ott, first sergeant of the 994th Engineer...... read more read more
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GRANBY, Colo. — U.S. Army Reserve engineers out of Colorado dedicated two months of annual training time in support of a local non-profit. The 244th Engineering Battalion, out of Denver, is providing four, two-week annual training rotations to construct for the YMCA of the Rockies in Granby, Colo.
Known as Snow Mountain Ranch, a resort-like non-profit about two hours west of Denver, troops of Rotation 3 pack up at o’dark-thirty, leaving final construction projects to the hands of Rotation 4.
“A little hard work brings you closer together,” said U.S Army Reserve Spc. Alex Lopez, of Aurora, Colo., who joined Rotation 3, which was a mixture of engineers from eight different platoons within the battalion.
“It’s great training because we’re from three different companies and we gained a lot of confidence in our work, as well as camaraderie,” he said.
Rotation 3 culminated their annual training with a two-and-a-quarter-mile run at an altitude of 8,750 feet, as the sun rose over the mountains, providing a scenic backdrop to their final day. They nearly completed five major projects and 10 smaller tasks, while at the same time getting the chance to meet staff and vacationers of Snow Mountain Ranch.
“The run symbolizes we’re all a group. We came here all from different units and ended up as family,” Lopez said.
Leadership agreed, adding that physical fitness can also bond Soldiers.
“I believe in a strong finish, so that’s why I came out here to run and push hard,” said U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ott, first sergeant for the 994th Engineer Company, also out of Denver. “It’s important that troops give a strong finish and we also have a little bit of fun.”
U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Kenneth Tucker, an interior electrician for the 994th Eng. Co., said the run was a positive thing for the engineers because it instilled pride and it boosted morale. “I feel like if this run were taking place anywhere else, Soldiers would have fallen out. But, because of what this run means for us, Soldiers were committed to finishing the run together,” he said.
The run leaves a lasting impression on the engineers, but in the end, the construction will also leave a standing memory for the community.
“The community impact has been another important aspect, just with Soldiers eating out and going into local establishments,” said Kristen Spronz, brand manager for Snow Mountain Ranch. During their stay, engineers were often thanked for their service and answered questions about their duty at the YMCA by civilians.
The engineers are part of an ongoing partnership between the military and non-profits like the YMCA, called Innovative Readiness Training. This year, about 140 U.S Army Reservists will rotate in for four two-week periods at the remote YMCA resort. They follow up previous rotations provided by the Air Force engineers and the Navy Seabees who did IRT tours at the YMCA of the Rockies in years past.
| Date Taken: | 07.21.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2017 14:13 |
| Story ID: | 244679 |
| Location: | GRANBY, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 175 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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