Photo By Staff Sgt. Ashley Cohen | FORT GORDON, Ga.— Capt. Calvin Whitaker Jr., communications officer, 525th...... read more read more
FORT GORDON, Ga.— The 525th Processing Exploitation Dissemination Battalion (Provisional) strengthened its connection to Fort Gordon, Georgia May 26, 2016, when it’s Soldiers adopted the community’s largest park.
Through the adoption ceremony the Soldiers pledged responsibility for maintaining the cleanliness and upkeep of the park called “Boundless Children’s Park”, located across the street from the Post Exchange.
“It’s a great way to give back to the community,” said Maj. Brian W. Tinklepaugh, operations officer in charge, 525th PED Bn. “As we’ve been standing up the battalion we’ve had so much support from the installation and we just want to give back to the community in ways that are tangible.”
The ceremony was a significant part of the battalion’s increasing community outreach since its historic activation as the first Army battalion of its kind November 2015, added Tinklepaugh.
“I think it’s a great thing when we, as Soldiers aren’t just using the facilities but that we are involved in the community and that we are now taking care of this,” said 1st Lt. JaTonya Whitaker, human resources officer, 525th PED Bn. “We aren’t just here to work we are here to give back to the community.”
Her husband Capt. Calvin Whitaker Jr., communications officer, 525th PED Bn added that they’ve brought their 1 year-old daughter to the park a few times and how honored he feels to be apart of the team taking care of it while shining a positive light on their organization.
The 525th PED Bn. is still building it’s presence at Fort Gordon and is part of the 525th Military Intelligence Brigade headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and currently has Soldiers supporting warfighting missions around the world, added Tinklepaugh.
In a speech at the ceremony Mr. John Curry, deputy garrison commander, Fort Gordon gave a warm welcome to the battalion and shared his amazement and gratitude for the battalion’s adoption of the park amidst the challenges faced while activating their unit.
“This community is only as good as its members are. It depends on everybody; every unit, and every organization to step up and do their part to make our town, our community better,” said Curry speaking to the Soldiers of the 525th PED Bn. “You all have done that and I’m really thankful for it.”
The missions of the 525th PED Bn. Soldiers require them to be out of the public’s view and keeps them from having much interaction with each other. Tinklepaugh said that the park adoption will help breed camaraderie within the battalion as well as the Fort Gordon community.
“It’s a great way just to show that we are here and I hope it gives the Soldiers a sense of ownership,” said Tinklepaugh. “When you ask people to be involved in something it gives them a sense of wellbeing, a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I hope this adoption does that for these Soldiers.”
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.10.2016 13:09 |
| Story ID: | 200632 |
| Location: | FORT GORDON, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 469 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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