Recently, the annual U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Pittsburgh District's Rivers Conjoin Lakes Conference was held at the 911th Airlift Wing in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
More than 65 district recreation and maintenance employees attended the conference that emphasized training, team building, and planning for the future. Additionally, it provided an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of district employees.
"The workshop provides an opportunity for district rangers, maintenance and management staff to network, learn new skills, complete self-defense training and plan for the future," Kathy Griffin, deputy chief of Operation and Regulatory Division said.
The natural resource management staff completed two mandatory safety training this year - pepper spray refresher and Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response.
According to Blauer Tactical Systems website, the company used to provide the initial training to the district's employee, SPEAR training is a personal defense measure that exploits the body's natural responses to violence and danger. Teaching employees to protect themselves and others is one measure the district is using to ensure the safety of our recreational visitors.
Jason Bowers, Tionesta Lake natural resource specialist, attended this year's SPEAR Training.
"I enjoyed the scenario training. I feel everyone should go through SPEAR training." Bowers said.
District rangers are not armed while on duty, therefore Bowers believes this can lead to some feelings of uneasiness while on patrol, but the training helps to alleviate their concerns.
Since rangers are limited in their means of self-defense, annual trainings such as SPEAR and pepper spray refresher are crucial to keeping staff up-to-date on self-defense skills.
In 2002, the Pepper Spray program was authorized by USACE Headquarters for implementation at the district level. This is one measure of defense rangers have if an altercation escalates to the point beyond of their control. All park rangers who carry pepper spray must complete a basic training course and a refresher training course annually, which was done during this year's RCL.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mantra on safety is success is no accident. Conferences, like the RCL, are designed for recreation and maintenance personnel to train, plan for the future, and leave feeling united as a team.
Richard Lockwood, chief of Operations and Regulatory Division, "The team comes out stronger, more united and with a better appreciation of the challenges and opportunities of their peers at the projects."
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