'It's for everybody' Jackson Jubilee showcases community services

This year's Jackson Jubilee provided visitors with a virtual tour of the services available on post.

More than 50 commercial organizations and business were present Friday evening at the Solomon Center to offer information, product samples and door prizes to guests. Many post agencies also attended the event to introduce their services to Fort Jackson's newcomers.

The annual event was designed to give people an understanding of the opportunities available to them in the greater Fort Jackson community, said Marilynn Bailey, Fort Jackson volunteer coordinator.

Bailey hesitated to characterize the event as a benefit primarily for newcomers. She said the jubilee is also an opportunity for agencies and businesses to explain changes in services and opportunities, but said post newcomers likely benefit most from the activities.

Among the organizations to set up shop at the jubilee were restaurants, health, beauty and wellness providers, tourism venues and schools, as well as the post thrift shop, Victory Spouses Club, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Family Readiness Groups.

"On-post organizations really take advantage of this," Bailey said. "It's for everybody."

As part of the evening's events were the post's annual Night Out activities, which were intended to increase awareness about law enforcement programs. In the past, Fort Jackson conducted it's Night Out activities on the same date as National Night Out, which takes place each year on the first Tuesday of August. Unfortunately, Bailey said, weekday events often experience low turnout.

Meanwhile, Jackson Jubilee -- usually held on a Friday -- was a standing success, so the decision was made to combine the two events at the Solomon Center.

The most interactive aspects of the event took place in the parking lot outside the Solomon Center.

Fort Jackson's working dogs showed off their tracking and defense skills, while police had tools on display concerning drunk driving.

Sgt. Christopher Riggs, of the Directorate of Emergency Services, said South Carolina's laws about drunk driving might take some by surprise.

"The national limit is .08," he said. "However South Carolina has a different law. You can actually be charged (if you're) under .08 if you show any signs of impairment."

Riggs was present to explain the risks and realities of driving, topics that weren't limited to only alcohol and drug abuse. Along with a "drunk goggles" kit (which features a variety of lenses that simulate different blood alcohol levels) was a tool to measure tint levels on vehicle windows.

"A lot of people are driving around with illegal tint and don't know it," he said.