Photo By Spc. Sara Wiseman | A student is tested by instructors on Korean language before being given her gift for...... read more read more
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DONGDUCHEON, South Korea – Nearly 40 Soldiers from the 210th Field Artillery Brigade joined staff and faculty members of Shinhan University in Dongducheon, South Korea, for a three-day session of classes held by the Gyeonggi Province Korean Head Start Program, Oct. 21-23.
The Head Start Program began as an effort to help Soldiers transition from their familiar American culture to one that many don’t have the opportunity to experience.
“The things you learn in the program are Korean culture, history and language,” said Dennis Trujillo, a professor at Shinhan University and Army veteran who served as a company commander at Camp Casey in 1980.
The session began with Trujillo leading a guided tour through the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul, South Korea. Soldiers had the chance to walk through rooms displaying the relics of their predecessors and learn about the strategies that led to the armistice currently in place.
“When I first came here I didn’t know much about the Korean War,” said Spc. Trevor Ross, from Austin, Texas, a canon crew member assigned to 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. “I didn’t know that the North Koreans had taken over 90 percent of South Korea and that the South Koreans pushed them all the way back. So it’s nice to understand that why we’re here now is a result of that surprise attack in 1950.”
After viewing exhibitions the group was treated to lunch at a café on the museum grounds that serves traditional Korean fare like bibimbap and bulgolgi.
The second day of instruction happened in a more conventional locale. Shinhan University’s satellite campus, located just ten minutes by bus from Camp Casey, where Dongducheon locals can earn degrees through Colleges of Global Business, Nursing, Convergence Science and Technology and Liberal Arts.
After signing in and donning nametags, Soldiers convened in a first-floor classroom fully stocked with the morning’s supplies. At the ready were tubs of glue, varnish, fans and a few types of paper for their course in Hanji crafts led by staff from the university.
Giving Soldiers hands-on experience in culture is one of the ways Head Start facilitators bridge the gap and familiarize participants with Korea in a holistic way. Prior sessions have included calligraphy and taekwondo as part of the curriculum.
“I’ve been learning a lot,” said Pvt. Nicholas Higgins, a native of Middletown, Connecticut, and motor transport operator assigned to B Battery, 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Field Artillery Brigade. “This is a good opportunity for Soldiers to get off post, learn some things and explore.”
As the lacquer of their peony plates and fans dried, Trujillo led a class highlighting Korean history and the ROK-U.S. alliance before Soldiers were treated to another traditional Korean lunch.
“South Koreans are tough,” said Pfc. Shane Meredith, from American Samoa, a field artillery firefinder radar operator assigned to the 333rd Field Artillery Target Acquisition Battery, 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Field Artillery Brigade. “They’ve always stood their ground and never give up on their country.”
After lunch the group was split into two classrooms where they began their mastery of basic Korean language, a portion of the course many of the participants had been anticipating.
“I speak three languages already,” said Ross. “So I’m excited for the language portion of class. Hopefully I can pick up a fourth.”
By the culmination of their studies, participants were able to write their own names in Hangul, understand the basics of Korean language and had a deeper understanding and appreciation for Korean culture and the ROK-U.S. alliance.
The next session of the Head Start program available for 210th FA Brigade Soldiers is slated for Dec. 9-11, for more information, contact your brigade information officer.
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.27.2014 03:11 |
| Story ID: | 146108 |
| Location: | DONGDUCHEON, 11, KR |
| Hometown: | AUSTIN, TX, US |
| Hometown: | MIDDLETOWN, CT, US |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldiers get Head Start serving in Korea, by SPC Sara Wiseman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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