The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation teams with the Army Reserve

Photo By Lt. Col. Brandon Mace | During a Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation Mentoring Camp in Dallas, TX, on Feb. 4, 2017, U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Paul Word, 300th Sustainment Brigade, takes a group of young men through a series of vignettes, helping them rethink the way they approach challenges in their lives. For the past six years the U.S. Army Reserve has partnered with the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation to provide Soldier-mentors for camps around the country. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo by Maj. Brandon R. Mace)  

DALLAS, TX, UNITED STATES

02.04.2017

Story by Maj. Brandon Mace 

412th Theater Engineer Command

DALLAS, Texas – The U.S. Army Reserve joined with the Steve and Marjorie Foundation for a Young Men’s Mentoring Camp Feb. 4-5, 2017, in Dallas, Texas.
For the past six years the U.S. Army Reserve has partnered with the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation to provide Soldier-mentors for camps around the country.
“These types of events not only support what we are trying to do in the Army, which is look for the best and brightest recruits that we can find,” said Army Col. Terance Huston, 5th Recruiting Brigade Commander, “but it also shows our commitment to this nation, and shows our commitment to the youth of this nation.”
Huston was invited to be the key note speaker at the camp’s opening ceremony. In his remarks he inspired the young men to commit to themselves and their futures. He thanked the mothers of each young man for their active involvement in developing their sons.
Members of local U.S. Army Reserve units, including members of the 300th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), were selected as mentors for the young men throughout the weekend. The Soldiers taught the young men how to march and stand in formation, bringing some military discipline to the event. By the closing ceremony the Soldiers had the young men marching in step and calling cadence as they entered the auditorium.
In addition to military discipline, each Soldier led his group through roundtable discussions and vignettes presenting real world challenges. These discussions were designed to make the young men stop, think and develop strategies to overcome the challenges they all face.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Corbin from the 300th SB was a first time Soldier-mentor. He was impressed with the entire program and the opportunities the young men were given share their experiences and learn from their mentors and each other.
“We all were civilians before we were Soldiers, and we transitioned and it changed our lives,” said Corbin. “We are sharing our experiences and letting them know, we are all human, we can all make changes, and everything that we did in the past doesn’t have to determine our future.”
After these camps end, the mentoring isn’t over. The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation follows up with the young men, to see how they are doing on the goals they set and to invite them back to future camps to act as junior counselors.
“We do these big elaborate programs, but where I know the work comes in, once the Army puts their discipline to them, I continue it,” said Frank Hallum, director of boys mentoring for the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation. “That’s how I get the best out of each boy. By continuing to work with them, with the principles that the Army taught and us here at the Steve Harvey Foundation.”
The camp closed on Sunday with a ceremony that included music and motivational speakers. Young men that demonstrated exceptional motivation and leadership were presented awards by the U.S. Army Reserve.
More information on the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation can be found at http://harveyfoundation.com/.

• Date Taken: 02.04.2017
• Date Posted: 03.09.2017 13:12
• Story ID: 226310
• Location: DALLAS, TX, US