FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Two hundred future Soldiers visited Fort Bragg, Friday, as part of “A Day in the Life,” a program aimed at exposing them to positive mentorship.
A partnership between the Raleigh Recruiting Battalion and the 82nd Sustainment Brigade, A Day in the Life, teaches future Soldiers about Army operations such as the Physical Readiness Training program, drill and ceremonies, customs and courtesies, learning military times and the phonetic alphabet.
“It’s good to familiarize somebody to see what they’re getting into,” said Sgt. Peter Foote, of the 82nd Sust. Bde. At Wright Field, Foote showed recruits how a parachute opens for a jumper after exiting an aircraft and how to activate a reserve parachute.
“My military occupation specialty is 11 Bravo (infantry),” said Bobby Rosinbaum, 20, who will report to Fort Benning, Ga., in October. It’s nice to get familiar with the parachute and how it works.”
Rosinbaum said after losing 70 pounds to join the Army, being able to select an MOS that is physically demanding was important. Rosinbaum runs five miles in 32 minutes, well under the 40 minutes required by most paratroopers, he said.
Sergeant Kelvin Britt, and Spc. Marcus Whitehead , both of the 82nd Sust. Bde., explained how a satellite transmit terminal works. An STT supports communications and Internet access downrange, said Whitehead.
Britt also told the future Soldiers to take advantage of the Tuition Assistance Program, which pays $2,000 a year for college, he said.
“Don’t let anybody ever tell you can’t do something,” he said. “Go to school, the opportunity is there.”
Joshua Carter, 19, signed up to be an infantryman and will report to Fort Benning, in January. He listened to advice from Britt and Whitehead.
“I’m trying to figure out everything that would help out with my job and everything people do to support my job,” said Carter, who enlisted because of college benefits and the opportunity to gain new experiences.
“If you join, then the Army is going to take care of you and when it’s all done, you are taken care of for life,” said the Holly Springs, N.C. native.
Robert Hodge, another future Soldier, familiarized himself with a .50-caliber Barrett sniper rifle. He said he is excited to have joined the Army and will report to Fort Benning in January.
“It’s a life-changing experience. I’ll get to do something that I’ve always wanted to do " to become independent.”
“A Day in the Life” is a great partnership between Raleigh Recruiting Battalion and the 82nd Sust. Bde., said Command Sgt. Maj. Ernest Sanchez, the recruiting battalion’s command sergeant major.
“We view recruiting here in the Fayetteville area as a Family business because so many dependents join,” Sanchez said. “We’re working jointly to prepare them to have a successful Army career.”
A Day in the Life exposes the future Soldiers to different types of Army equipment they would not likely see until they report to their duty stations or to advanced individual training, he said. It also helps increase the potential population of airborne Soldiers.
According to Staff Sgt. Reshema Sherlock, of the 82nd Sust. Bde. Public Affairs Office, after the event, the future Soldiers will have a chance to renegotiate their contract for an airborne option if they qualify or if there is a vacancy. They can also volunteer for airborne school after completing basic training.
Friday’s A Day in the Life was the second iteration, following a previous event in March that drew 100 participants, said Sanchez, who seemed impressed with the future Soldiers.
“The future of the Army is bright,” he said. “The Soldiers are motivated. They’re the smartest group we’ve put in the last years and they’re patriots.”
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