(Editor's note: Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Alan B. Owens, Video Documentation Supervisor with Vulture Team in Operations Group)
FORT IRWIN, Calif. - Adam Wolfe had wanted to be in the Army since he was a small child and his aspiration was realized when he visited the National Training Center and Fort Irwin to spend a day with Soldiers, leadership and Army equipment, May 28.
Adam got be a Soldier for a day. After arriving to this military installation, he changed into an Army Combat Uniform with the rank of private first class and after several promotions, he concluded his day as a command sergeant major.
The 14-year-old Wolfe is a tripolegic. After a premature birth, a hemorrhage in his brain incapacitated his body below his chest, except for his right arm. He has full use of that arm and he will proudly show its capability. His right arm does almost everything for him, including one handed pushups, which he executed along with Col. Kurt Pinkerton, commander of United States Army Garrison at Fort Irwin.
At a dining facility on post, Pinkerton had lunch with Adam and his family, which includes his parents and three siblings. The four are actually quaduplets - three boys and one girl. Pinkerton expressed that it's great to see Adam have a desire to serve his country and to know that his family are teaching their children about the importance of service.
Adam's day at Fort Irwin began with meeting Brig. Gen. Ted Martin, commander of the NTC and Fort Irwin. Martin performed an honorary swearing in for Adam.
Adam was then hosted by Soldiers and leadership of the 916th Support Brigade, with the commander, Col. James Kazmierczak, promoting him to sergeant. Soldiers provided him descriptions of M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporter trucks and Mine Resistant Ambush Vehicles used in the brigade's mission to support the rotational unit training and the installation. He was lifted onto the cab of a HET and driven around. He received a shirt with a graphic and the slogan, "Army Strong, Fear the Beast." The 2916th Aviation Battalion provided a tour of an air medical evacuation helicopter, a LUH-72 Lakota, at the post's helipad.
After lunch, Adam and his family were escorted to the training village Ertebat Shar, where they were presented a compilation video of rotational unit training events. An explanation was provided and questions answered by Capt. Shaun Manley, a public affairs officer with Vulture Team in Operations Group. That was followed up with a tour of the town.
Upon returning to the cantonment area, Adam and his siblings got an opportunity to "shoot" weapons at the Engagement Skills Trainer. The training device uses weapons (M9 handgun, M4 carbine rifle and others) modified to work in a video game environment. Targets are displayed on a screen that runs the length of a wall inside a climate-controlled trailer. The simulated firing gave Adam a chance to feel the recoil of an M4 without having to use ammunition.
The final promotion ceremony was administered by Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Perez. As a final act of honoring the young admirer of all things military, the installation placed a placard at the commanding general's headquarters building that read: "Command Sergeant Major, CSM Adam Wolfe."
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