Delaware National Guard 249th builds confidence course at DelTech By Spc. James Pernol, 1/444th Mobile Public Affairs Sgt. Frank Goworski of New Castle and Spc. Mike J. Pappaterrini of Pike Creek hold onto a log so that Staff Sgt. Jim T. Greenplate of Newark can measure and set a cut line. Photo by Spc. James Pernol. The 249th Engineer Detachment, from New Castle, started breaking ground for a confidence course on the campus of Delaware Tech in Stanton during the July drill weekend. The course is being built for the American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA) and the Fraternity of LAMBDA Alpha Epsilon National Fraternity which is a non-profit organization. The main purpose of designing the obstacle course is to allow youth participants to compete and demonstrate their confidence and condition ability. Spc. Vernon R. Farley of Prices Corner, using the Small Emplacement Excavator (SEE)Truck with Auger Attachment to drill holes for posts. Photo by Spc. James Pernol. The 249th is constructing the course as a unique opportunity for some military occupational skill training, in addition to providing community support. Working only on drill weekends, the detachment will probably take about three months to complete the project. The course must be done by October 19 for a National Junior Law Enforcement Day competition that the ACJA will be holding at Delaware Tech, said Staff Sgt. David J. Thorngate, project noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC). When the ACJA found that they did not have the funds to go out and hire a civilian contractor, a former member of the Delaware Guard asked if we would like the training, said Col. Gary Dawson, Director of Training for the Delaware Army National Guard. The 249th, or any other unit, cannot take jobs away from civilian contractors, so we went through the appropriate process and advertised the fact that we would like to take on the job, he explained. "We have the man power, and we are trained on this sort of job," said Thorngate. The 249th specializes in these types of vertical construction projects. For example, the 249th also worked on the course at the United States Marine Corp (USMC) Reserve Center on Kirkwood Highway. The new course is going to be longer but with less obstacles than that of the USMC course, he said. With many trained electricians, plumbers, and carpenters, the 249th will provide about 20-25 soldiers working at the site at any given time during their drill weekends, said Staff Sgt. Douglas Jeandell, a squad leader and construction supervisor with the unit. Pfc. Chris Crosby (left) from Wilmington, and Spc. Angela Kozak (right), a land surveyor from Newark, work to find the slope of a hill. They will then use balancing logs to ascertain inclination and distance between the confidence course barriers. Photo by Spc. Robert L. Jones, Det. 1 444th MPAD. The project provides a real-world challenge for the unit, including a very short timeline, according to Thorngate. "You have to work with what you are given," he said. For the 249th this is as realistic as it gets. They got the mission on July14, and went right to work getting materials and tools together. This sort of project gets the unit ready for real time events. After the 249th provides Delaware Tech with the construction, the campus staff will take care of the maintenance of the course. And for partnering with the school, the Delaware National Guard could come back to utilize the course for training, if needed. Either way, said Thorngate, "It’s great for the unit to get out and help the community like this."

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