Photo By Staff Sgt. Takita Lawery | Sgt. Sampson Ifegwu, a cavalry scout assigned to the 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry...... read more read more
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Each year, Future Farmers of America chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week. Seventeen Chapman High School FFA members and two teachers spent a day training with “Long Knife” Soldiers Feb. 27 on Fort Riley.
Soldiers from 5th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, hosted the students as part of their annual Adopt-A-School activity. Chapman High School students got the opportunity to experience simulator exercises on military vehicles at various locations on Fort Riley.
“It’s a partnership activity that lets Chapman High School students get oriented to some of the different jobs done on post,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Travis J. Kirkman, the 5th Sqdn. 4th Cav. Regt., chaplain. “This exercise also lets them know that we care about them as partners and we’re willing to host and show them a good time.”
The Adopt-A-School program is an initiative that partners Soldiers from a unit with one or more schools. The purpose of the program is to nurture children of the area, strengthen the commitment to education, increase awareness of the Army's mission and build on the success of the Army Community Covenant.
During their visit, the FFA students were able to participate in simulated exercises that showcased equipment that Soldiers use on a daily basis.
“The training showcased the platforms and equipment that Soldiers use every day in defending our national interests in a hands-on and low risk environment,” Kirkman said. “This training also allowed our partners at Chapman to appreciate what we do in an unforgettable way.”
The students visited the flight simulator on Marshall Army Airfield to experience realistic flight training in the full-motion and to gain knowledge on what it would be like to pilot a UH60A/L/M Black Hawk helicopter.
“Training Soldiers on these simulators is extremely beneficial and helpful in many ways because we don’t always get the opportunity to fly the actual aircraft,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jeffery Casto, a Black Hawk instructor pilot assigned to 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Inf. Div. “This training doesn’t waste blade hours and we can basically set up combat scenarios where we have enemies shooting at us, which we can’t simulate in real life.”
Sophomore Mazee Casto was able see what her father, Casto, does in the Army.
“I love coming to see what my dad does in the Army,” Mazee said. “I love doing simulators. It gives me a feel for flying a real helicopter, something I am interested in.”
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish also got a chance to operate simulated M2/M3 Bradley fighting vehicles and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles at the Close Combat Tactical Training Center.
“The tactical vehicle training gives the Soldiers a chance to come in here and make mistakes,” said Tom Byrne, a computer-based trainer for the facility. “They learn from their mistakes so when they actually go out to the field, they train correctly.”
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2017 14:41 |
| Story ID: | 225637 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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