By C1 Staff
DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Department of Corrections will hold a one-day competition this Spring to test correctional and probation officers in their job-related skills.
Delaware News reports that the Guardian Shield Challenge is the first and only challenge of its kind for correctional employees and was created voluntarily by correctional officers.
The challenge begins April 27 and is designed to test participants’ level of skill in physical fitness, weapon marksmanship, hands-on core skills and job knowledge.
Every competitor who successfully passes all phases of the challenge will earn a Guardian Shield Award and a certificate of achievement.
“I wanted our correctional officers and probation officers who come to work every day and perform their duties with excellence to have an opportunity to demonstrate their professionalism and the personal pride they have for their job in corrections,” said Lt. George H. Lancaster, Jr., a creator and founder of the challenge. He is currently a correctional officer staffed at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center.
“I thought that this challenge would provide them with additional motivation to practice and improve their physical fitness and job skills beyond the classroom and physical training they receive on the job.”
Commissioner Robert Coupe supports the competition.
“The Guardian Shield Challenge fits perfectly with our goal to improve physical fitness across the Delaware Department of Correction,” he said. “We are proud of the leadership and motivation the volunteer officers have shown in creating the Guardian Shield Challenge.”
Though this year’s challenge is open only to Delaware correctional staff, there are plans to expand it in the coming years.
For more information about the challenge, visit http://www.guardianshieldchallenge.org/.