Westbrook engineer unit participates in Raymond playground opening

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RAYMOND, MAINE (09/09/2019) (readMedia)-- Former members of the 262nd Engineer Company were on hand Tuesday, Sept. 3, to help formally open the new playground field at Raymond Elementary School alongside administrators, parents, volunteers and others who contributed to the project.

During the summer of 2017, the unit spent their two weeks of annual training in Raymond. They hauled, graded and compacted approximately 5,800 cubic yards of fill, raising the hillside by almost 30 feet in some areas. The district has since been able to complete the project, to include seeding. On the first day of the school year, the students were all brought out to formally open the field.

"The work that the Guard did was invaluable," said Bill Hansen, director of facilities for RSU 14. "Without them we wouldn't have had a project. The coordination leading up to it was fantastic, they really knew their stuff."

Alissa Messer served as a volunteer project coordinator and addressed the students and guests gathered on the new field. "If I could leave you with one word, it would be – grateful," she said. Messer thanked everyone involved in the project which also included local donors and representatives from Boy Scout Troop 800, who conducted Eagle Scout projects for the playground.

"Thank you for inviting us out today," said Maj. Kerry Boese, the commander of the 262nd at the time of the unit's participation in the project. "It's always great to be able to give back to our communities. A lot of great training came out of this, and we hope you enjoy it." Boese was accompanied by Staff Sgt. Shannon Trepanier and Staff Sgt. Jessica Kurka, who served as the supply and training non-commissioned officers for the 262nd during the project.

Projects like this are referred to as innovative readiness training or IRTs, and pair unit training requirements with community needs. The program enables active, reserve and National Guard units to train for their wartime missions while also helping their local communities. The Maine National Guard has a long history of using IRT and similar programs as a method of training for state and federal missions.

The 262nd is one of four engineer companies assigned to the Maine Army National Guard's 133rd Engineer Battalion. The unit is headquartered in Westbrook and has a detachment in Sanford.

Captions:

190903-Z-DY035-004: Maj. Kerry Boese, former commander of the 262nd Engineer Company, stands on the completed field, flanked by Staff Sgt. Shannon Trepanier and Staff Sgt. Jessica Kurka. The two noncommissioned officers managed unit supply and training during Boese's time as commander. The three were on hand in Raymond Sept. 3 to represent the 262nd at the official ribbon-cutting to open the new field. (Army National Guard photo by Capt. Carl Lamb / Released)

190903-Z-DY035-002: Two years after the 262nd Engineer Company built the base of the new multipurpose field at Raymond Elementary School, the field is completed and ready to be used. Former members of the 262nd were on hand Sept. 3 for the official ribbon-cutting. (Army National Guard photo by Capt. Carl Lamb / Released)

190903-Z-DY035-008: Maj. Kerry Boese, former commander of the 262nd Engineer Company, cuts the ribbon alongside Raymond school administrators and other project contributors at the Sept. 3 official opening of the new elementary school field. The 262nd built the base of the multipurpose field as part of an Innovative Readiness Training project at the Raymond Elementary School, June 16-28, 2017. This project provided excellent training for the engineers, as well as service to the Raymond community. (Army National Guard photo by Capt. Carl Lamb / Released)

170624-Z-TY703-028: The 262nd Engineer Company built the base of a multipurpose field as part of an Innovative Readiness Training project at the Raymond Elementary School, June 16-28, 2017. This project provided excellent training for the engineers, as well as service to the Raymond community. (Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sarah Myrick / Released)

170624-Z-TY703-200: Students of the Raymond Elementary School showed gratitude for the 262nd Engineer Company as they built the base of a multipurpose field as part of an Innovative Readiness Training project at the school, June 16-28, 2017. This project provided excellent training for the engineers, as well as service to the Raymond community. (Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sarah Myrick / Released)