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    1st Infantry Division Forward hosts local children to visit base, meet Soldiers

    1st Infantry Division Forward hosts local children to visit base, meet Soldiers

    Photo By Sgt. Anna Churco | A Soldier leads a group of local children towards the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation...... read more read more

    POZNAN, POLAND

    01.30.2020

    Story by Sgt. Anna Churco 

    241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

    1st Infantry Division Forward (1 ID FWD) hosted children from a local orphanage for a partial tour of the base, as well as a meet and greet with Soldiers on Jan. 30, 2020, in Poznan, Poland.
    “The kids have a break in school, and this is a great way to occupy their time for a day,” said Pola Kasprzak, a counselor with the orphanage. “They have been very excited for this trip since we told them about it.”
    Army Staff Sgt. Brock Webb, staff operations Non-Commissioned Officer with 1 ID FWD, was there to greet the children at the gate to begin their tour of the base.
    “Today is a day dedicated to interacting with these local children, and allowing them to see what equipment we use,” said Webb. “Basically a day for them to see what a Soldier is living like in Poznan.”
    The beginning of the tour included a class taught by Webb, as well as hands-on learning where they to tried on different parts of a uniform.
    The next part of the tour included more hands-on activities. The kids were able to see military vehicles like the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) and the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV).

    The tour concluded at the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) center. Here, the kids interacted with Soldiers as well as play games like Ping-Pong and Foosball.

    Events like these are vital in maintaining a strong bond between United States Soldiers and the international communities where they live and work.

    “The kids had a great time,” said Kasprzak. “We hope to be able to do something like this again.”

    It was apparent that by the end of the day, the kids were much more comfortable with the Soldiers, playing games, and taking pictures with them. A theme that many Soldiers, including Staff Sgt. Webb would like to see go beyond the base and into the community.

    “Events like this help people in the community know that we’re here to help,” said Webb. “At the end of the day, we’re just like they are.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 01.30.2020
    Date Posted: 01.31.2020 13:52
    Story ID: 361240
    Location: POZNAN, PL
    Hometown: COLUMBIA, SC, US
    Hometown: FORT JACKSON, SC, US
    Hometown: FORT RILEY, KS, US

    Web Views: 99
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN