FORT STEWART, Ga. - The soldiers of the 2-3 Brigade Special Troops Battalion “Titans,” 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, hosted educators and recruiters, facilitating a daylong demonstration of what Fort Stewart and the Army have to offer new recruits, June 27.
Lt. Col. Rodger Knedel, commander of the 2-3 BSTB, thought the day’s intent was a worthy endeavor, and that the event was an important one.
“It’s a unique opportunity to let (the educators) see a little bit of Fort Stewart and what the Army as a whole has to offer,” Kenedel said.
While the Titans hosted the affair, showcasing Fort Stewart and their soldiers, it was the Jacksonville, Fla., U.S. Army Recruitment Battalion’s “Hammer of the South,” United States Army Recruiting Command, idea to do so.
“We just really want to make sure that these educators and guidance councilors fully understand all the opportunities that rest in the Army,” explained Lt. Col. Stephen Grabski, a native of Somers, Conn., commander of the Jacksonville Recruitment Battalion.
The recruiters, educators and guidance councilors present were from all over northern Florida, and southern Georgia, as it is a very large area that the Hammers of the South preside over, and were clearly there to learn as much as they could about the opportunities gained by joining the Army.
“Our Army recruiter has done great things for our school as far as community outreach goes, so when he asked me to come to Fort Stewart I was like, ‘Sure, I want to learn all I can,’” said Karen Black, a guidance councilor for Echols County Highschool, Statenville, Ga.
The Titans showed off Fort Stewart and the Army well, taking the visitors on a tour that began at the Warriors Walk, a memorial site where an Eastern Redbud Tree has been planted for each 3rd ID soldier who has died during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
From there it continued on to the Titans’ motorpool, where they had a large amount of their equipment and vehicles out on static display. Each piece of equipment had a group of soldiers there ready to explain to the educators what the equipment was used for, and to answer any questions the educators may have about the individual soldiers job. The recruiters also facilitated, explaining how each soldiers occupation translated to the civilian job market.
After that the visitors got to learn all about the healthcare benefits provided for military members and their families, and about all the amazing opportunities for further education that the Army provides its soldiers and their families. They also went to the Virtual Simulation Trainer and had the opportunity to see what it’s like to fire a rifle, albeit a simulated one.
“Fort Stewart is a well developed post with a very well established and excellent facilities, which makes it an excellent place to show the educators what (the Army) is all about,” said Knedel.
This was just the situation Lt. Col. Grabski was hoping for, as one of the biggest obstacles he encounters as a recruiter is the myth that everyone in the Army is just like a G.I. Joe, or one of the numerous overly combat oriented, cliché roles found in the movies.
“The Army has more opportunities for different occupational specialties and career fields than any other service … many educators I speak to simply don’t realize that,” said Grabski.
With the help of the Titans however, this seemed to be changing, as Black seemed particularly impressed with what the Army was capable of in regards to her students and others.
“The Army is a world of opportunity for young people,” said Black.