The training included course work, and then practical operation in laying riprap for erosion control and spreading topsoil to encourage growth of the natural habitat for wildlife at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Cambridge, MD.

CASE Construction Equipment, Folcomer Equipment and Groff Tractor provided equipment and product/training support to veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon for use in training 10 new participants in its heavy equipment training program. The training included course work, and then practical operation in laying riprap for erosion control and spreading topsoil to encourage growth of the natural habitat for wildlife at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Cambridge, MD. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Blackwater NWR protects approximately 28,000 acres of tidal marshlands and woodlands for the benefit of wildlife species.

Team Rubicon is training its members in the safe use and maintenance of heavy equipment for its disaster response operations. Folcomer Equipment provided a SR240 skid steer, and Groff Tractor supplied a CX75C SR excavator to the effort. The partnership between CASE, Team Rubicon and the National Wildlife Refuge Association dates back to November 2015 when the three organizations began working together to complete training and project work. Other refuge training projects have been completed in Texas, California and Washington, with additional training taking place at sites throughout the country. Eventually, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hopes that about 100 Team Rubicon members will be available to refuges for heavy equipment work and hundreds more available as volunteers for service projects across the country.

"Both Folcomer Equipment and Groff Tractor understand the dual benefits of this partnership and how it relates to the CASE mission," says Scott Harris, vice president – North America, CASE Construction Equipment. "We're providing skills training for veterans to use in both disaster response operations and their careers. We're also helping improve critical natural habitats and supporting sustainability in the process. Folcomer and Groff really stepped up to make this training possible."

To learn more about Team Rubicon, visit TeamRubiconUSA.org. To donate to Team Rubicon in support of its disaster response efforts, visit Case.TeamRubiconusa.org. For more on CASE, visit CaseCE.com. Groff Tractor can be found online at www.grofftractor.com, and Folcomer Equipment can be found at www.folcomerequipment.com.

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