JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- Smiles, laughter and happiness could be seen and heard at the Mission and Installation Contracting Command during the unit's Bring Your Child to Work Day Nov. 20 here.
Children of MICC employees spent the day learning about what their parents do for a living as well as having fun with their parents and hosts for the event -- MICC Commanding General Brig. Gen. Kirk Vollmecke and Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney Rhoades.
The general welcomed all the children and guests to start the day, then invited them all to walk around the historic Long Barracks building, a structure dating back to 1885 and home to the MICC since March 2012 following its renovation. Rhoades addressed the children too, and taught them how to give an enthusiastic Army "Hooah."
Following the welcome, children learned about the mission of the command and also participated in arts and crafts with their parents. Ranging in age from 3 to 16, children also learned how to make slime, made bracelets and necklaces, built a Thanksgiving memento, and had a personalized caricature created by a volunteer.
"We wanted to show our next generation that contracting can be fun, and what their parents do is important to the Army and our nation," said Pete Hunter of the MICC Small Business Programs, who taught the children about contracting.
After a pizza lunch and ice cream social, children played in the playground area adjacent to the MICC headquarters. Waiting for them outside were members of the 323rd Army Band, "Fort Sam's Own," who entertained the children with lively and current songs and took time to talk to the children about musicianship. Also outside were military vehicles on display for the children to crawl in and explore.
The City of San Antonio also participated in the MICC's Bring Your Child to Work Day. Officials brought a San Antonio Police Department vehicle and McGruff the crime dog for the children to meet, and the San Antonio Fire Department's Sparky the dog was on hand to help bring awareness to fire safety.
While Rhoades applied war paint to the children's faces to make them look like young warriors, MICC officials set up a variety of competitive games for the children to accomplish with their parents.
The day concluded with Vollmecke wishing them well and presenting mementos from the day.
"I didn't know work could be so much fun," said teenager Cynthia Gentry, who participated in the event with her father, Simba Gentry, from the MICC Manpower Office.
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