Photo By Sgt. Stephanie Woodson | Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion 15th Infantry Regiment , 3rd Armored Brigade Combat...... read more read more
FORT BENNING, Ga. — Soldiers assigned to Company C “Crusader,” 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, spent the evening with more than 300 children at the Boys and Girls Club of the Chattahoochee Valley, Feb. 27, Columbus, Ga.
Nearly 15 soldiers and spouses participated in after school activities such as reading, arts and crafts, music and sports with children ranging in age from first grade to high school seniors.
The Crusader soldiers also facilitated a physical fitness challenge for the youths, while other soldiers in the company talked to the teenagers about their journey to the military and the importance of education.
“The first volunteer event was when I first took command,” said Capt. Jeremy Herron, crusaders command, 1-15 Inf. Regt., 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. “We started off just cleaning up the Boys and Girls Club site. The second volunteer event happened in November 2013. It was indoors and we did a physical fitness challenge, helped the children with homework, played video games and talked to the teenagers about what they wanted to do after high school.”
Despite an early work dismissal, for Thursday Marne family time, the soldiers took the time to greet the children as they came off the school bus, he added.
Children were divided by age group and placed into separate rooms where the soldiers would meet them.
“The first half hour the children [were] given a briefing about drugs and alcohol, and then they [were] given a quiz with age appropriate question. The physical fitness challenge doesn’t begin until 4:30 p.m., so we try to keep them engaged as much as possible.” said 1st Lt. Nathan Reynolds, assigned to 1-15 Inf. Regt., 3rd ABCT, 3rd ID.
Reynolds said trying to keep more than 250 youths engaged is not easy, but they get pretty creative to keep it.
The physical fitness challenge tested the children in their ability to jump rope, complete pushups and situps and run 40 meters. They were also given a height and weight, just as the soldiers do during an Army Physical Fitness Test.
With each event running simultaneously, most of the time was spent in the gym, but toward the end he was able to spent with the high school students, said Herron.
“It’s a great event for them and us. We show up in our T-shirts and act like drill sergeants, and it allows the high schoolers the opportunity to ask the soldiers questions and share their experience with them before they see a recruiter. It’s always good to have a plan because high school goes by fast and before you know it, you’re in the workforce,” said Herron.
During the discussion about military life, the soldiers were asked questions like how is life being in the military, where do you sleep, what do you eat, and how is it being an officer?
One of the Crusader’s focus is to give back to the community by volunteering and to develop rapport within the city of Columbus.
The club director, Ronnie Bell, recalled a volunteer event in December 2010 when more than 190 soldiers came and spent the day in the life of a youth who participated in the after school program.
The tone was set just having the soldier there, Bell said, because it’s the little things, people can do that will make a big difference. He’s been at the Boys and Girls Club more than 15 years. He understands and feels everybody needs somebody, even the most senior of leaders. Unfortunately, he only had that from one area of his life, his mom.
He feels there is always more he can do; there is always a child or children needing a mentor, a hug, and word of encouragement or help spelling a word Bells is not saying he can do it all, but he’s going to do his best. He admits it is truly a community effort.
Bell added that volunteer efforts can go well beyond monetary donations and is extremely appreciative of Crusaders continued involvement with the Boys and Girls Club, and looks forward to this continued partnership.
Boys and Girls Club is a year-round youth service agency strives in providing growth for the youth within the community.
According to the Boys and Girls Club website, Boys and Girls Club America’s tradition of service to the nation’s youth began in 1860, when the first Boys Club was established in Hartford, Conn. Since then, the organization has grown to serve some 4.8 million youth annually in more than 4,000 Boys and Girls Clubs across the country. The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Boys and girls Clubs of America as one of the top nonprofit organizations, while placing Boys and Girls Club of America in the number one position among youth organizations for 13 consecutive years.
For more information about the Boys and Girls Club America visit www.bgc-colsga.org
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2014 17:30 |
| Story ID: | 121441 |
| Location: | FORT BENNING, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 121 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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