Photo By Sgt. Adam Simmler | Soldiers with the Maine Army National Guard, 136th Engineering Company, 3rd Platoon,...... read more read more
AUGUSTA, Maine - In the Maine Army National Guard, training is a constant companion. Soldiers strive to stay on top of their chosen field, while training at every opportunity for the day that they will put their skills to use in their state and on the battlefield.
One of the ways the Maine Army National Guard, 133rd Engineer Battalion, stays up on their training is by giving back to Maine communities. During the past week of their annual training, soldiers from the 136th Engineer Company, 2nd Platoon have been lending a hand at Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine on several building projects to help the non-profit organization provide a fun environment for families.
This year, the unit is building several bridges, installing culverts, and working on several fence projects, said Staff Sgt. Kevin R. Sirois, from Rumford, a project supervisor for the mission. "I love getting out and being able to do something for a community who can't really accomplish what we can do as a unit, just being able to get out and see the point of contact and the people we are doing the project for, is just a really good heart-filled feeling."
This isn't the first time that the National Guard has assisted the staff at Camp Sunshine; in 1992, National Guard soldiers cleared the land that the camp sits on. Since then, National Guard units from around Maine have been able to assist on many building projects including a climbing wall, gazebo, bridges and even a pond.
Soldiers are taking the opportunity to train in a real-life environment, and in the process giving back to the community.
“It’s great for me to know that my troops are actually learning and making progress, said Sirois.
Anna Gould, co-founder and spokesperson at Camp Sunshine, explains that "Camp Sunshine provides a respite for families who have a child with a life-threatening illness.” Part of what makes camp special is that the camp is staffed predominantly with volunteers, probably 95 percent of the staff you see here are volunteers, said Gould.
First Lt. Morse Doane, from Portland, leader of 136's 2nd Platoon said, "Families come from all over the country to Camp Sunshine, it's a great feeling in many ways. Number one for my soldiers is it's an outstanding opportunity to let other people see and appreciate how hard they work and the things they do.”
Along with Camp Sunshine, there are many additional sites where Maine Army National Guard soldiers are using valuable training time to practice their job and contribute to their friends and neighbors.
In Topsham, soldiers from the 136th Engineer Company, 3rd platoon led by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher Barnaby, are building two community pavilions at the Cathance River Park.
In Augusta, soldiers from the 262nd Engineer Company, 2nd platoon led by 2nd Lt. Jonathan Bratten, are renovating parts of the Augusta Nordic trails at the Augusta Recreation area.
Doane expressed that it's inspirational for people to see soldiers working here knowing that those same soldiers could be deploying overseas, it's a reminder to people that the Guard is out here training. In another respect he says it’s motivating for the soldiers and the community just to see people out here in uniform doing something that he thinks people understand requires extra effort and an extra level of commitment.
All the training that National Guard soldiers receive, and the skills they learn through giving back, have earned them a reputation of being skilled and excellent at what they do, Doane said. “They’re an invaluable part of what the federal mission is.”
| Date Taken: | 06.21.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.10.2012 13:18 |
| Story ID: | 94454 |
| Location: | MAINE, US |
| Web Views: | 102 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 133rd Engineer Battalion: shining example of service, by SGT Adam Simmler, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
