Camp William Hinds, Raymond, Maine - Members of the 122nd Fighter Wing Civil Engineering Squadron, Fort Wayne, IN along with multiple other military units assisted with the construction of several new additions and improvements at Camp William Hinds, Raymond, Maine on June 16, 2017.
Camp Hinds, sitting on more than 300 acres, is used primarily as a traditional resident summer camp for Boy Scouts of America troops from around the state. When not serving as a summer camp, various Scout units from the area can be found utilizing its many campsites and buildings throughout the fall, winter and spring months.
The 122nd Fighter Wing’s domestic deployment provides an excellent training opportunity for members to utilize their existing skillsets and acquire new abilities and knowledge that would be useful in a contingency or deployed environment. The project has been a collaboration between Air National Guard members of the 122CES, Air Force Reserve members from the 482nd Civil Engineering Squadron, Homestead ARB, FL, Marines from Landing Support Company CLR-45th Marine Logistics Group, Savannah, GA, and Marines from ENG CO “Charlie” 6th Engineer Support Battalion 4th Marine Logistics Group, Peoria, IL.
This project provides the opportunity to get hands-on training not normally found at most home stations, said Chief Master Sgt. Dwayne Lee, Innovative Readiness Training Project Manager. Experience gained here will help build leadership qualities, grow members’ ability to work with others, and even learn something outside of their skill set.
The main focus of the trip is to complete work on the newly built 10,000 square foot dining facility. This involves laying flooring, electrical work, installation of donated stainless steel kitchen appliances and equipment, drywall work, among other activities. The camp’s leaders and supporters have long hoped for the opportunity to have the new dining facility to replace the old outdated facility and now thanks to a joint effort between the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America and volunteering military units from around the country that wish has now become a reality.
Another key project includes the rebuilding of the camp’s water dam and fire pond which will serve to protect the camp, its facilities, staff, and attendees in the event of a fire. The dam was damaged 10 years ago from a heavy storm and due to funding issues and other needed requirements it was never repaired until now. This large undertaking has involved moving over 20,000 cubic yards of dirt, clearing hundreds of trees, and reapportioning hundreds of gallons of water. Members have been utilizing various heavy equipment pieces such as excavators, bulldozers, dump trucks, and other equipment to perform this work.
Additionally, other improvements to the camp include the building of a pavilion, outdoor restroom facility, and renovations to the cook’s cabin.
“Members can not only get the training they need and be proficient at it but also be ready for future contingencies and deployments to help make the mission a success and grow as better Airmen, NCOs, and officers,” said Tech Sgt. Dustin Buel, IRT NCOIC.
The project advantages are not only to build skills and experience but to learn to work together with others they are not accustomed to working with such as other military branches or civilian workers. This prepares them for the deployed environment where diversity among military branches, foreign and domestic, is almost always present.
“It’s great to come together with other branches and units,” said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Eversole, 122CES Superintendent. “Working together and building a team is what we’re getting out of this along with helping out the boy scouts and the community.”