Local National Guard unit ships out for annual training

Local National Guard unit ships out for annual training

June 2, 2001

MEMBERS OF the 2nd detachment 947th Combat Engineering Company, based in Cortez, load up their bags and headed for a bus to take them to main headquarters in Pueblo on Friday. From Pueblo, they will fly with the rest of their company to San Diego for an annual training mission.

By Kevin Denke
Journal Intern

The 2nd Detachment of the 947th Combat Engineering Company, based in Cortez, boarded a bus for Pueblo early Friday afternoon to meet up with the rest of the company, and eventually make their way to San Diego, Calif., for an annual training mission.

The Cortez detachment consists of approximately 17 people, according to Staff Sgt. Antonio Read.

Their mission in San Diego will include work with scrapers and bulldozers, but Read said he did not know any more details. The unit specializes in using heavy equipment and work that includes the construction of berms and roads.

When the Cortez unit gets to Pueblo, it will join two other platoons as well as a maintenance unit. There, the members will be given a better idea of what their mission is and board a plane for San Diego. The group will remain there for two weeks.

The Engineering Company of Cortez is based in the building that formerly housed the 928th Medical Detachment of Cortez.

Military reorganization in 1996 meant the end of the 928th in Cortez, but the 947th took its place as a part of the community.

Heavy-equipment operator NCO Randy Bland is one of three members of the 928th who stayed here. He spent 18 years in the 928th before transferring to the 947th. Bland believes the 947th is building up.

"We’ve come a long ways and we are still trying to get back to full potential," he said.

Bland said community awareness is important to making the 947th strong.

"After the 928th closed, they thought we were all gone and it was over. Awareness is the key," explained Bland. "We need lots of new troops. There is a lot of room and many career opportunities. It is a part-time job but a full-time career."

The unit is currently working with the city, as well as the BLM and Forest Service, on various projects that Bland said he could not specify.

They have some equipment that, according to Bland, has left most of the unit only partially trained because of the equipment’s newness.

"We need quality training or, as we call it, ‘stick time,’" he said.

The need to get out in the community and have active training is exacerbated by the unit’s lack of space at the current facility.

That is why summer camps, such as the trip to San Diego, are essential. In addition, they try to come up with a project each month that keeps the training process ongoing.

"We’re doing a dual purpose in the community," explained Bland.

"In addition to being overwatchers for the federal and state government, we are also part of the community and are taking care of our families," Bland said.