PRESQUE ISLE — Forty-five National Guardsmen attended a daylong seminar for senior non-commissioned officers at Keddy’s Inn here in mid-August, the third such seminar in the past two years for members of the 262nd Engineer Battalion commanded by Lt. Col. Boyd R. Gray Jr.

The seminar followed completion of the battalion’s annual summer training exercises in Aroostook County.

It marked the first time that the battalion had held a senior NCO seminar while at annual training. The unit made time for the training, Gray said, “because it’s too important to allow other things to be put ahead of it.”

Sgt. Maj. Richard M. Stevens, who assisted Gray, said that the seminars have produced a more cohesive operation of the unit which is headquartered at Bangor with companies and detachments spanning the state from Norway to Calais.

Gray said that bringing the senior NCOs together on a regular basis “has proven to be extremely successful. The sharing of ideas and mutual concerns, and the feedback that we have received has been an invaluable tool creating unity and cohesiveness within the 262nd.”

Soldiers attending the seminar agreed.

Platoon Sgt. Bill Francis of Co. B said, “It’s very helpful for senior NCOs to get together on a regular basis within this battalion. We get the opportunity to put names and faces together, and to establish relationships that help us to perform our missions more as a team.”

Sgt. Alan Waterhouse of Co. D said, “We had a tremendous exchange of ideas, philosophies, and experiences. It was a chance to learn from each another.”

The seminar ended with an evening meal at which battalion guests were Maj. Gen. Ernest C. Park, the state’s adjutant general; Brig. Gen. Donald H. Marden, and State Command Sgt. Maj. John J. Leonard, Jr.

After dinner, Marden spoke to the NCOs about the importance of accountability.