U.S. Consul General, Artillerymen team up for education

Photo By Andre Potzler | Capt. Eric Wright and Sergeant 1st Class Jason Clough educating German students on what 1-6 Field Artillery Regiment does as an organization and what field artillery is as a whole.  

PEGNITZ, GERMANY

11.18.2021

Story by Andre Potzler 

7th Army Training Command

PEGNITZ, Germany – U.S. Consul General Timothy Liston, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Field Artillery Brigade and the Amerikahaus Nuremberg unexpectedly joined an English lesson at the Pegnitz Gymnasium (high school).
On Nov. 18, Liston visited the City of Pegnitz, which is also partnered with 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, to meet with Pegntiz Mayor Wolfgang Nierhoff. On short notice, the 7th Army Training Command and the city’s mayor arranged a rather unusual English lesson for the Pegnitz tenth graders. After an office call and a visit to the Pegnitz Memorial Site, dedicated to 37 U.S. service members who lost their lives in a tragic helicopter crash 50 years ago, the high school was the next stop.
The high school students only knew that they were going to have a special visitor, nothing else. Having the highest ranking U.S. diplomat in Bavaria and two U.S. soldiers join them was a welcome surprise.
After an introduction from Liston, students were able to ask questions ranging from “What is your favorite German food?” to “How does the German-American relationship affect our daily lives?”
When Liston was asked what kind of advice he has for this generation of students he answered: “Be curious for anything in the world, don’t let people tell you that you can’t achieve something and keep asking great questions!” He also highlighted the importance of building good relationships and how communication is key to mutual understanding.
Capt. Eric Wright and Sgt. 1st Class Jason Clough gave students an insight into what it means to be an artilleryman and what being stationed in Germany as a U.S. Soldier is like.
The English and Sports teacher Mahir Jonas Emonds summed up the interaction, “This visit was a highly appreciated surprise, and the students were excited to interact with the American visitors. The exchange today has already inspired them to pursue future projects related to the United States in the classroom and outside of it. Some students even inquired about how to study in the United States.”
After talking about physical training in the U.S. Army, the artillerymen were asked to demonstrate their push-up skills, which led to the idea of having the class visit 7th ATC in the spring to join Soldiers for Physical Training and a tour of the Grafenwoehr Training Area.
The Amerikahaus Nuremberg, represented by Kathryn Trotter introduced their educational and cultural program dedicated to fostering German-American relations.
“The combination of U.S. soldiers stationed in close vicinity, the cooperation with the U.S. Consulate and the City’s partnership give us unique opportunities to bring young Germans and Americans together,” Trotter said.
The class spokesperson Jil Reim added: “Speaking to the Consul general was an interesting and informative experience. He encouraged us to study in the U.S. The general atmosphere was really nice and the Consul is really down to earth. We hope to see and talk to him again!”
The visit was part of 7th ATC’s Community Relations/Outreach program. The goal was for German students to learn more about transatlantic relations and their American next door neighbors in Grafenwoehr.

• Date Taken: 11.18.2021
• Date Posted: 11.22.2021 03:23
• Story ID: 409754
• Location: PEGNITZ, DE