Command takes part in building bridges

By Sharon L. Hartman (SMDC/ARSTRAT-CS )November 23, 2009

Building Bridges
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 1st Space Brigade's Capt. Gary Kelly discusses the art of building bridges with students from the Galileo School of Math and Science. U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command has been in a partnership with the Colorad... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Building Bridges
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - For eight months, Soldiers from both the 100th Missile Defense Brigade (GMD) and the 1st Space Brigade have volunteered their time, skills and knowledge to the future scientists and mathematicians of Galileo School of Math and Science.

The association is part of a joint venture between Colorado Springs School District 11 and the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's Operational hub here.

The partnership has been in effect since March and has been an effort to build a bridge between the local military and the community. Through accomplishing this goal, the students have also bridged a gap that spans an ocean.

The students' mission began Aug. 27, according to Eric Hamilton, the school's curriculum coordinator. The first quarter curriculum for the Galileo sixth graders, more affectionately known as the Bulldogs, centered on the theme "Change." Within core classes, various activities were undertaken to encourage students to explore ways to make positive "changes" in the world.

"We introduced the theme and the activities ... the students then blogged in their language arts classes, researched various types of bridges and structures in science, and learned the geography of Afghanistan in social studies," Hamilton said.

The Bulldogs were tasked as part of their science class to erect miniature bridges, each one made of 20 clear plastic drinking straws, one meter of masking tape, two stacks of books (or wood blocks), and a yardstick.

Here is where Army Space Soldiers entered the picture. On the afternoon of Oct. 15, Soldiers from the command offered their expertise to assist in the bridge building effort.

"The way we fit into the bridge building is [the students] are corresponding with children in Afghanistan," said 1st Space Brigade's Capt. Gary Kelly.

"The Army is building bridges in Afghan villages. So, as the kids build these bridges here with us, they are blogging [with] the Afghan children [about] bridges being built in their community. So they call it bridging the gap."

Hamilton explained the students logged on as a class to www.ning.com.

"This is a social networking site similar to Facebook. However, it is highly monitored and membership must be approved by the owners. Students from Jalalabad had a group already set up. I joined, spoke with the director of the school, and we decided to get our students to connect," Hamilton said. "I set up a sub-group called Cultural Bridges. We have kept it friendly and mainly discuss what students do with free time, what their schools look like, how they perceive the elders ... topics that are safe and friendly."

Much of this falls in line with recent comments from Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander, U.S. Forces - Afghanistan/International Security Assistance Force -Afghanistan. In his Commander's Initial Assessment to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, McChrystal recommended a "change in the operational culture to connect with the people [of Afghanistan]."

"I believe we must interact more closely with the population and focus on operations that bring stability, while shielding them from insurgent violence, corruption and coercion," he said.

Col. Jeffrey Farnsworth, 1st Space Brigade commander, went along with Kelly to aid some 60 students in the bridge building project.

Questions from Farnsworth came precise and orderly: "So, how do you build a suspension bridge' Can I use this drawing paper and you show me how you are going to make it' Where is the buttress' Where is it going to sit' How will that work' Is it holding up the base'"

Kelly, a volunteer with the school since March, was easily sought out by the Bulldogs as they followed their objectives of categorizing the various types of bridges: suspension, beam and arch. Wise to the subject matter, he would come back with, "That would be an arch bridge wouldn't it'" to "Okay you guys. I'll come back and check on you later."

After more than an hour of hands-on with the Bulldogs the Army Space Soldiers had to return to their real world mission - providing Space-based capabilities to the warfighter.

In a mini after-action report walking down the school's hallways, Kelly said, "The last team you were working with, sir, are a pretty sharp group."

Farnsworth agreed. Kelly went on to say that one girl in particular seemed to stand out during the exercise utilizing the straws and tape.

"She made some samples and she said to her fellows students in her group 'watch this.' She made it like I had shown her. 'I want you (referring to her fellow classmates) to make three more and that is going to be our bridge deck. I'm going to make something else,' she said."

"She is a born leader," said Farnsworth.

As for the Bulldogs, their assignment continued with a consensus being reached in each group on which final bridge design would be utilized in an overall competition during Community Night at the school on Oct. 19.

With the command still involved in the project, 100th Missile Defense Brigade (GMD) Commander Col. Greg Bowen and the executive officer served as a judge for the competition.

"Being a guest judge for the bridge competition was heartwarming; the kids really put a lot of effort into their work," Bowen said. "It was a valuable learning experience for them also, both in terms of the importance of math and science, as well as the symbolism of building bridges between people. It was a very enjoyable evening for me, and the kids had a great time."

The partnership between the Galileo School of Math and Science not only built a bridge

between the military and the community, but this particular experience has produced a bridge that has far reaching effects around the globe.