Photo By Staff Sgt. Tegan Kucera | Maj. Eric Wilson, the battalion training officer for the 3-411th Logistic Support...... read more read more
CAMP ATTERBURYJOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - While many high school freshmen spend their weekends playing sports or electronic games at home, Clint Haines traded some of his spare time shadowing a U.S. Military Academy graduate to learn more of what he is in for, both at West Point and after.
Haines, a freshman at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Ind., was determined to meet his goal and he took it upon himself to contact the Camp Atterbury Public Affairs Office where he found help on his quest of finding someone to shadow for a day with a West Point background.
"I can't think of a better way to spend my weekend than this," said Haines.
The opportunity enabled Haines to see active duty Army life and military equipment first hand. He also learned more about his college of choice and about the life of an Army officer.
"I think it has been really interesting," said Haines. "It's been an eye-opening experience for what actually goes on in the life of a military officer."
Haines, who has an interest in military history, has had the desire of attending one of the premier colleges in that field for the last three years. His father was in the Army and Haines has been looking forward to serving his country for years. He did not, however, know how he wanted to go about it.
After contacting Camp Atterbury to locate a West Point graduate he found Maj. Eric Wilson, a resident of Newaygo, Mich., who works as the battalion training officer for the 3-411th Logistic Support Battalion, 205th Infantry Brigade.
Wilson said he jumped at the chance to promote the merits of West Point and provide Haines with information about the life of a training officer.
"I think it's a great opportunity to meet an individual who is really looking to his future," said Wilson, who graduated in 1993 from West Point. "I think that it's outstanding that he is doing it so young and he's taking a great approach," he said.
Wilson said he did not start thinking about attending West Point until he was a junior in high school, but is happy to say it was one of the best decisions he has ever made.
"West Point provides an outstanding and well-rounded education to help people succeed in life, no matter what [that life's] going to be," said Wilson.
For Wilson, there were several things besides the education that stood out about West Point in comparison to other colleges, especially traditions and values.
"Duty, honor and country are the values that are instilled throughout the entire four years," said Wilson.
"You learn to lead by starting out as a plebe, a West Point freshman, and progressing from that first year, so that when you come out, you are ready to handle any situation," said Wilson.
Wilson said Haines would be a good fit in the Military Academy because of his desire to be in the military and his love for history, which is something that will surround Haines while there.
Besides the potential Haines may have, Wilson sees this as an opportunity to pass on his experience and information to Haines.
Wilson believes the information will be helpful for Haines at the time of making his decision of what college to attend since he knows more about the academy.
"It's been my pleasure to pass on whatever information I could to help somebody make a decision on their future," said Wilson.
While it will be more than three years before Haines will be able to attend West Point, he is going about the process now to make sure it is the right choice to shape the rest of his life.
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 11.25.2009 13:33 |
| Story ID: | 42016 |
| Location: | CAMP ATTERBURY, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 161 |
| Downloads: | 109 |
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