Photo By Leslie Ann Sully | West Florence High School Air Force Cadet Col. Ian Grant puts the battalion in formation.... read more read more
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FORT JACKSON, S.C.—Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps student from West Florence High School in Florence, S.C., took part in Fort Jackson Come Meet Your Army tour Jan. 24. They joined civilians from around South Carolina and students from Camden Military Academy, Lower Richland High School and North Western High School.
Fort Jackson commander Brig. Gen. Milford H. Beagle Jr., invited South Carolina citizens to a special, up-close tour of Fort Jackson, basic training and its soldiers. “I want to keep the close ties we have with Columbia, the Midlands and for me, South Carolina. I want everyone to know what is in their backyard-that gem that is called Fort Jackson,” Beagle said.
Cadet Col. Ian Grant this was his third tour “This was a memorable experience and very intriguing.” Even though he plans to join the Air Force after graduation, he said “it is good to know about the other services.”
Beagle opened the eight-hour tour explaining that since Fort Jackson trains the most basic trainees for the Army, he asked everyone to “spread the word about what their Army at Fort Jackson is doing.” The tour gave students and other citizens the opportunity to see and experience how soldiers train every day and promote Basic Combat Training awareness.
Cadet Lt. Col. Xavian Addison has attended other tours on Fort Jackson but he immediately found this one to be very different.
“It was great to hear from the commanding general,” he said.
The next stop was watching a basic combat training graduation ceremony, which for weather purposes, had to be moved indoors, which made it different than most of the weekly ceremonies.
Cadet 1st Lt. Hailey Zink is a sophomore at West Florence Highs School and part of the Air Force JROTC program. After experiencing the graduation ceremony, she said it “helped solidify my decision to join the Army.” She plans to join the Army after high school and wants to become a combat medic.
Standing beside her, fellow friend Cadet Maj. Thomas Byrd said, “You should have seen her at graduation and heard her yell HOOAH!”
Cadet Col. Ian Grant, a senior, and the leader of the cadet battalion said he had been other similar tours of Fort Jackson but what he took away this time was a little different. Some on the tour commented on how sharp the West Florence cadets looked. And he was pleased with his fellow students. “I am so proud of our cadets and the way they are conducting themselves-just like we have been trained,” he said.
Interactive parts of the tour really excited the high school students. They learned to shoot a rifle on a simulator system.
“That was a new experience and at first I didn’t think I would do well but I did,” Zink said.
All students were engaged during the barracks inspection at Company A, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment. The students saw where basic trainees live, how they store their belongings in a wall locker and how to make a bed.
Many asked questions of soldiers and drill sergeants about Army basic training, Fort Jackson, and the Army in general. Most wanted to know how hard the training is.
Trainee Ahlyia Curry said, “If you find self-motivation, you will get through basic training.”
If someone is interested in learning more about the Army, contact the local recruiting office at 2600 South Irby Street in Florence or call 843-669-4178.
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| Date Taken: | 01.25.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 01.25.2019 14:21 |
| Story ID: | 308287 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 224 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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