Delaware National Guard - DNG News 2002

Maj. Gen. (Ret) George K. Hastings presents the 2002 Hastings Award to Cpt. John M. Fisher, commander of the 249the Engineer Detachment. The award cites the unit's superior training readiness. Photo taken by Spc. Robert Jones.

It was a big day on two separate fronts Sunday, November 17, for the soldiers and officers of the 249th Engineer Detachment.

In a ceremony held at the New Castle Country Rifle Range, the unit received the 2002 Hastings Award for Training Excellence. Presented by Maj. Gen. (Ret.) George K. Hastings to Detachment Commander Cpt. John M. Fisher, the award represents the top training unit in the state, based on a number of criteria to include Weapons Qualification, Army Physical Fitness Test, Military Occupational Specialty Qualification and overall training readiness.

The unit was specifically cited for having a 90% rate of soldiers attending Annual Training, 88% being weapons qualified and over 80% being MOS qualified. This is the fourth year of the award, with the 249th replacing the 2001 Award Winner, the 153th MP Company.

"This trophy represents the legacy of unit readiness that our former Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Hastings focused on," said Brig. Gen. Ronald B. Stewart in his remarks to the unit. "Upon his retirement, Maj. Gen. Hastings requested no citations for himself but rather an annual award to highlight training readiness."

"It didn’t surprise me when I heard the 249th had won the award this year, it’s always been a super unit," said Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Hastings, the TAG from 1993 to 1999.

"This award has been established to recognize training and since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the reserve components importance has multiplied ten-fold and since the events of 9-11, it has doubled again."

In a ceremony held just moments before the Hastings Award, Maj. Gen. Francis D. Vavala, the current Adjutant General, also awarded the unit its battle streamer for service in Desert Shield – Desert Storm.

Maj. Gen. Francis D. Vavala attaches the Desert Storm battle streamer to the guide-on of the 249th Engineer Detachment as Col. Henry McCann and Lt. Col. Scott Chambers assist. Serving as Guide-On bearer is CW2 Mike J. Elwood, the last remaining member of the unit to serve in Desert Storm. Photo taken by Spc. Robert Jones.

"We’ve got some unfinished business to take care of with this streamer," said Maj. Gen. Vavala, who cited a 10 year effort to attain the streamer. "The 249th has a tremendous legacy and it’s very appropriate that Chief Elwood is here to receive it."

Chief Warrant Officer Two Mike J. Elwood is the last remaining member of the unit to have been deployed to Desert Storm. He held the guide-on during the ceremony as the battle streamer was attached.