Future leaders visit Arifjan

By CourtesyApril 9, 2015

Future leaders visit Arifjan
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Students from the American School of Kuwait and U.S. Soldiers pose for a photo in front of the Area Support Group-Kuwait headquarters on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, April 1. The students were members of a Peers and Leaders program at ASK, which assists stu... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Future leaders visit Arifjan
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A student from the American school of Kuwait wears the 'bite suit' at the Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, dog kennel, April 1. The suit is worn by dog handlers when training military working dogs to attack assailants who are fleeing or acting aggressively. The... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Future leaders visit Arifjan
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Students from the American School of Kuwait learn the physical challenges of wearing an M40 protective mask by playing a game of soccer on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, April 1. The students were members of a Peers and Leaders program at ASK, which assists s... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Students from the American School of Kuwait, a campus comprised primarily of American children, bused in through the maze that is the entry control point to Camp Arifjan, March 31.

The students, were members of the Peers and Leaders program at ASK, which assists students with aspirations of one day serving in leadership roles within their communities or other ventures.

"We've done this every year. It's been a tradition that the peers and leaders get to come and see the military, because they see [the military] as leaders of the free world," said Aaron Willette, assistant principal of ASK. "So they come here and get to see what a large operation is and how many people it takes to do something like this."

Part of the trip included a visit to the Arifjan dog kennel, where military working dogs are housed and trained. There, the students got a first-hand look at just one component of base defense.

"I was impressed at how well-trained the dogs were," said Willette. "How they were able to maintain themselves, and how the handlers maintained themselves. It was impressive."

Afterward, students were taken to the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warehouse to see some of the counter measures taken to protect Soldiers from CBRN threats.

Following a brief class into the different CBRN threats and how to properly use the M40 protective mask, students were taken outside for a quick game of soccer, while wearing the mask.

The game lasted only minutes, but that was clearly long enough, with one student exclaiming, "That was hard! You have to wear this all day?"

Their trip ended with a visit to the Post Exchange for lunch and a short time to shop.

However, now the real work begins. The students will have to give a presentation to their peers at school about what they learned during their visit.

"The chemical thing was just scary," a laughing Willette said. "But they can take that back and give a presentation to their peers and their friends about the [importance of hygiene]."