Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kelvin Ringold | Sgt. Chiedu Ginikanwa, 226th Military Working Dog Detachment, allows his dog to attack...... read more read more
HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas – Fort Hood Soldiers supported Harker Heights High School’s Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) organizational day at Carl Levin Park April 17 here.
Signalers from the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade, along with Soldiers from numerous units on post and local fire and police forces set up static displays and stations to give the JROTC teenagers a glimpse into what the armed services have to offer.
It was a good opportunity to inform the teens, said Spc. Bryan Hester, Charlie Company, 57th ESB. Even though they are close to a military base, they are not familiar with what is here or how things work.
Cpl. Aaron Dennis, Charlie Company, 57th ESB, set up a Secure, Mobile, Anti-Jam, Reliable, Tactical-Terminal (SMART-T) on the back of a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) and walked different groups around the equipment as he explained the equipment and its purposes.
“I was asked if I would come out today, and I agreed,” said Dennis. “I enjoyed talking to the youth about what I do.”
This was the 14th Organizational Day the Harker Heights JROTC program has looked towards Fort Hood units and local fire and police departments for support. Having these community assets involved has, and will, continue to be important for the school and program.
There were a variety of educational and static displays from the Army and surrounding community here, said Garry P. McNiesh, senior Army instructor, Harker Heights High School JROTC. With their involvement, some cadets are thinking about being medics, firemen, or dog handlers in the military.
Along with the signal displays, the day involved military dog handlers, local police and firefighters. Together, Soldiers and community figures alike gave the teenagers a glimpse into equipment and different aspects of their jobs.
Always a crowd-pleaser during organizational day, the 226th Military Working Dog Detachment had teams and their dogs out showing those in attendance what the dogs were capable of.
“The highlight for me is always the working dog show put on by the 89th Military Police Brigade,” said McNiesh. “However, I enjoy the cadets learning about the community and Army displays. You can see the light in their eyes.”
Also in attendance, combat engineers from 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, showed the cadets around their up armored HMMWV, and also allowed them to try on their combat gear which brought a smile to the teens’ faces.
“It was nice trying on all the uniforms,” said Lexi Witmore, JROTC cadet. “It was nice to see what I could potentially be doing since I have been thinking of joining the military.”
For the 11th Signal Brigade, Fort Hoods units, and other uniformed services, helping support events like this allows them to give back to the surrounding community, and exposes the JROTC cadets to the wide range of options a career in the military can provide.
| Date Taken: | 04.17.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2014 15:30 |
| Story ID: | 128435 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 96 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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