Camp Arifjan hosts Kuwaiti students

Photo By Spc. Bradley Wancour | A Kuwaiti student operates a robot used by explosive ordinance disposal during a tour here, March 22. The students are with the American School of Kuwait, which is a school for talented young people with aspirations of American higher education. Students operated the robots and talked with soldiers as part of their interactive tour to the military base. The tour emphasized the team-building aspects of the military and strengthened the relationship between the U.S. and Kuwait.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

03.22.2012

Story by Spc. Bradley Wancour 

13th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Area Support Group-Kuwait hosted a tour here for Kuwaiti middle and high school-aged students from the Department of State funded Access Microscholarship English Program on March 10 and the American School of Kuwait, March 22.

“One of the goals of the tours was to get high school students interacting with service members,” said Lt. Col. Andrea Meyer, ASG-K protocol officer and native of Elizabethtown, Ky.

During the tour, the students were shown the inside of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, the Current Remotely Operated Weapon Station, operated several robots used by Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams, and given a tour of a fire station.

“The U.S. and Kuwait have had a special relationship for many years now,” said Meyer. “We are excited to have this opportunity to meet with young Kuwaitis and share with them how special that partnership is.”

“We are to show the positive and productive role of the U.S. military in Kuwait” said Meyer. “The U.S. military has a lot of positive values like teamwork, respect and preparedness, those core values keep people safe and help us build partnerships.”

Another goal of the visit was to send the Kuwaiti boys and girls home with an understanding of the importance of pursuing academic excellence, as the U.S. military places a high value on academics, especially math and science.

“Everyone knows about the Army, but not everyone knows what’s going on behind the scenes,” said Sonia Fernades, English instructor for AMIDEAST and native of Grenoble, France.

It’s good to see soldiers talking about their jobs because it allows students to see a different side of the military, explained Fernades. The students can see the passion the soldiers have for their work and they are people just like everyone else, she said.

Interactive tours such as these emphasized the team-building aspects of the military and strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Kuwait.

• Date Taken: 03.22.2012
• Date Posted: 03.26.2012 09:01
• Story ID: 85785
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW