Knox Soldiers spark bright ideas at Creek Side Career Day

Courtesy Photo | Second-graders have questions about the Talon II robot at Creek Side Elementary School Career Day in Sonora, Ky., April 28. Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, 42nd Clearance Company, 19th Engineer Battalion, stationed at Fort Knox, were among presenters at the annual event.  

FORT KNOX, KY, UNITED STATES

04.28.2015

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Human Resources Command

FORT KNOX, Ky. - A Talon robot moves across the ground interrogating unknown objects, but instead of a dusty street in Iraq or Afghanistan the setting is Creek Side Elementary School in Sonora, Kentucky.

Four combat engineers serving with 2nd Platoon, 42nd Clearance Company, 19th Engineer Battalion, stationed at Fort Knox, were at the controls as they made Career Day presentations on robotics and Army life for approximately 500 elementary school students April 28.

Pvt. Ricky Rivera and Pfc. Carlos Salcedo, both 19th Engineer Soldiers, operated the Talon robot as Pfc. Joseph Vertin and Sgt. Zachary Vanness spoke with students and answered their questions. The Creek Side students enjoyed seeing the Talon move objects with its robotic arm and climb curbs and other obstacles in its path.

Children laughed as the robot "stole" a traffic cone from the nearby Hardin County Water District display. Students also literally got to experience the weight of a Soldier's gear by briefly donning Army helmets and body armor.

"It was a great experience to be able to interact with a community that supports the military. The students had a profound impact on me, I just hope we had the same impact on them," said Vertin as the Soldiers broke down their equipment for the ride back to Fort Knox.

The Career Day was supported as part of the longstanding Partners in Education relationship between Creek Side Elementary School and Operations Division, Officer Personnel Management Directorate, of U.S. Army Human Resources Command. The Fort Knox Soldiers were one group among 15 organizations participating. Other professionals on hand to spark the children's imaginations included the local fire and police departments, utility companies, Life Flight crew and numerous small businesses from the Sonora area.

"Operations Division partners with Creek Side Elementary for up to eight engagements a year, including events such as Veterans Day and Read Across America," said Lt. Col. Jay Liddick, chief of HRC's, OPMD Civil Affairs Branch. "These events help to bolster the relationship between Fort Knox units and the surrounding community."

Students and Soldiers alike benefited from the opportunity to interact in a positive learning environment provided by Creek Side's Career Day, he said.

• Date Taken: 04.28.2015
• Date Posted: 06.22.2015 11:19
• Story ID: 167632
• Location: FORT KNOX, KY, US