Schweinfurt Boy Scouts enjoy time with 12th Chem. Co. Soldiers

Photo By Aislinn Amig | Soldiers from the 12th Chemical Company shows off their PackBot 510 to the Boy Scouts of Troop 55 and Cub Scouts Pack 630 of Schweinfurt, Germany, in the motor pool on Conn Kaserne.  

SCHWEINFURT, GERMANY

12.03.2010

Courtesy Story

21st Theater Sustainment Command

By: Spc. Randi Diggs

SCHWEINFURT, Germany – The Boy Scouts of Schweinfurt Troop 55 and two Cub Scouts from Pack 630 spent the day with the 12th Chemical Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, on Conn Kaserne here recently learning how to be a chemical soldier.

All the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts are children of soldiers currently living in Germany, and they participated in a number of activities set up by the 12th Chem. Co. platoons.

One station was learning about the Biological Integrated Detection System. The scouts saw how a BIDS is set up and run. They each had a chance to sit in the captain’s chairs, use the video surveillance system, hear what the system does and see its features.

Another station highlighted the Fox vehicle and the 12th Chem. Co.’s reconnaissance robot, the PackBot 510.

“I really liked going into the Fox vehicle and being in the driver’s seat,” said 9-year-old Tyr Eriksson, a native of Cape Coral, Fla.

The scouts saw firsthand what it would take to be a Fox crew member. They tried on helmets and talked through the headsets’ communication systems, which was a hit with the scouts.

Learning about the robot was also popular. The scouts said they enjoyed watching the robot’s uses and capabilities.

The final station was decontamination, which consisted of two parts. First the decontamination platoon Soldiers showed the scouts how to wash and spray the chemical contamination off of vehicles with the M12 Pump. The system is used to pressurize and heat the water coming out of the decontamination system and into hoses. The scouts were shown how to give hand movements to safely position the water flow and vehicle movement. The second half of the station had the scouts mopping down the vehicles, which is the application process of a decontamination detergent.

“It was nice to have the Families there to see what the Soldiers do at work,” said 1st Lt. Jennifer Montgomery, a native of Rock Falls, Ill., and the platoon leader for the 12th Chem. Co.’s reconnaissance platoon.

• Date Taken: 12.03.2010
• Date Posted: 12.03.2010 09:49
• Story ID: 61281
• Location: SCHWEINFURT, DE