CAMP RAVENNA JOINT MANUEVER TRAINING CENTER, Ohio – Due to all of the growth and expansion of the training area at the Camp Ravenna Joint Maneuver Training Center in northeast Ohio, the need arose for the addition of a concrete helipad.
This helipad, when complete, will become an additional medical evacuation point for the training area.
During their two week annual training, the soldiers of 3rd Platoon, 1194th Engineer Company were tasked with the construction of the medevac point.
Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Cockrell from Dublin, the non-commissioned officer in charge of 3rd Platoon, explained that while the project seems simple, it was quite involved.
“We had a field that needed numerous improvements done to is,” explained Cockrell. “We had to not clear and grade the field, but we also had to drain it after a recent storm before we could set the forms in place for the concrete.”
Because annual training is a chance to learn, Cockrell was able to use this time to allow his squad leaders a chance to shine.
“I let my NCO’s explain to and help the young, inexperienced soldiers with questions that came up on the job site,” Cockrell explained. “From running equipment to working with the concrete, my goal was to let my squad leaders do their job and let me only guide them as necessary.”
For Spc. Paulina Conaway from Chillicothe, this was a chance to learn a new skill.
“Last year our platoon was working with electrical wiring,” explained Conaway.
“It was nice to learn something different. I had no idea about how to do a concrete project like this when we started.”
Pvt. Cody Cline from Ashland, who is attending his first annual training, liked the approach that Cockrell and his squad leaders took.
“Our leaders really gave us a chance to learn,” explained Cline. “We really were given chances to figure things out for ourselves. We were able to get good hands on experience constructing this site.”
When complete, the helipad will be able to support helicopters in size all the way up to a CH-47 Chinook.
The 1194th Engineer Company is currently conducting multiple construction missions during their two week annual training. The training and construction should conclude in the middle of June.