Photo By Tarah Jackson | Chief Warrant Officer Frank Vaughn, the Indiana National Guard's state command chief...... read more read more
EDINBURGH, Ind. – In order to save the work done by the Soldiers before them, the Warrant Officer Candidate Class at Camp Atterbury's Regional Training Institute chose to do a community service project that would fortify and enhance the previous class's project. Last year's class built a concrete sidewalk and stairs in and around the Big Blue River Dam in Edinburgh, Ind. The current class intends to reinforce the wall on the small riverbank so that floods don't wash away the popular fishing spot or the stairs.
Forty tons of stones awaited the warrant officer candidates, June 5, as they formed a chain gang and, one-by-one, passed each other the rocks to drop into the cage-like structures called gabion baskets, which would serve as the wall. Wheelbarrows were later brought in to speed up the process.
Warrant Officer Candidate Brett Weliever, of Greencastle, Ind., explained the group's mission.
"Basically we're reinforcing the wall with cages filled with rocks to help strengthen it and make it more durable for whenever the water gets high and floods this area," Weliever said. "We'll also help sustain the concrete steps that last year's class built."
Weliever said becoming a warrant officer is about more than learning officer roles and responsibilities.
"Part of being a warrant officer candidate is giving back to the community in which the school is located," he said. Weliever said at the beginning of the class in February they looked for a project that would make a difference in Edinburgh.
"We knew that last year's class did the steps … and we wanted to help protect it so that the people of Edinburgh could enjoy this for years to come."
In addition to the 12 candidates, a few warrant officers were on hand dropping rocks and restructuring the cages.
Chief Warrant Officer Frank Vaughn, the Indiana National Guard's state command chief warrant officer, rolled up his sleeves and literally pitched in. Vaughn climbed atop the rock pile and began tossing the rocks to Soldiers down below.
Vaughn said he believes that senior warrant officers need to make it a point to reach out to the up-and-coming Soldiers.
"This is my way of coming down and showing support for the program, showing support to the candidates," he said. "I think it's critical that in the beginning of [the candidates'] careers and throughout, senior warrant officers in key positions need to support them and work with them and show them mentorship because you're looking at the future of the warrant officer corps."
Warrant Officer Candidate Darryl Banks said he was very appreciative of the display of camaraderie.
"The warrant officers took time out of their busy day to come out here. That's very impressive and I appreciated their support," said Banks." It just shows me that warrant officers really take care of each other."
Banks was also thankful for the community's involvement in making the event a success. Banks said all of the materials for the project were either donated by local organizations or obtained at a reduced rate. From the driver who moved the 40 tons of rocks, to the fire chief, to the town architect, Banks said it truly was a combined effort.
"We even had the engineers from Camp Atterbury helping out," said Banks. "So this was total community project."
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2010 07:53 |
| Story ID: | 50978 |
| Location: | EDINBURGH, INDIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 219 |
| Downloads: | 133 |
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