WIESBADEN, Germany - Department of Defense Dependents Schools educators shape the futures of a very unique group of students: military children. Their parents fight wars in far-flung corners of the world, practice surviving vehicle rollovers and fly helicopters for a living, just to name a few.
So they learned a little more about the world of their pupils' parents during the ninth DoDDS teacher orientation Oct. 29 on Clay Kaserne. Activities included a shooting exercise, vehicle rollover demonstration and a visit to the airfield.
"I believe it is key to ensure that our teachers learn about the military community they support," said Peter Witmer, school liaison officer, who led the event.?"It adds to understanding the lives led by the parents of their students."?
Col. Mary Martin, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden commander, kicked off the event with a welcome and words of appreciation for those who mold the young minds of military children.
"You build the future," she said. "You're getting them prepared and ensuring they become a great part of society. That is what you do."
Roger Gerber, director of the Transformation and Stationing Management Office, presented the much-anticipated traffic plan for Hainerberg construction, starting soon, and assured teachers that student population would remain the same.
Then it was off to the Engagement Skills Trainer at the Training Support Center. Experts oriented educators with the weapons, set them up on the indoor range, and they fired away.
"This is a great tool to make sure we're using our weapons efficiently before going downrange," explained Sgt. 1st Class William Moreno, U.S. Army Europe's Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion S3 noncommissioned officer in charge.
Next they observed a demonstration of the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer, or HEAT, which combat Soldiers use to practice escaping from a vehicle that has rolled over.
Wiesbaden Middle School Principal Dr. Susan Hargis expressed concern about the safety of the training after a Soldier emerged from the vehicle flushed.
"Your little face is all red and you look like you could be my son," she said. "Is this training dangerous? How many times can you do that until you get hurt?"
"This is very good training, ma'am," he responded. "It builds confidence in Soldiers to rely on safety equipment. It saves lives and it saves equipment."
"Just know that we worry about y'all," she replied.
During the airfield visit, educators witnessed a distinguished visitor take off in one of the Blackhawk helicopters and climbed aboard a similar aircraft.
"I thought it was a pretty neat visit," said Tom Davis, sixth-grade world history teacher. "I didn't think we'd get to practice shooting the same weapons as Soldiers. It was great to see the safety exercises, because that can be very frightening."
For the three German school principals who had never set foot on an Army garrison, let alone shoot an M-16, the tour was eye-opening.
"I was very impressed by your garrison commander," said Frank Wollstein, principal of Abendgymnasium and Hessenkolleg Wiesbaden and former Bundeswehr Soldier. "That she addressed the teachers in this way -- a German colonel would never do this. You feel her authority but nevertheless she is very easygoing."
It's like a military garrison plus a normal town, he added.
DoDDS teachers can work at an overseas school indefinitely, while principals typically serve six years. "The orientation is a great reminder to our educators of why are we here and why are they here -- to support the troops and educate future leaders," Witmer said.
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