FORT GORDON, Ga. (Oct. 16, 2015) - There is an old saying that to truly understand someone, you must walk a mile in their shoes. That phrase rang true for a group of civilians with a strong desire to learn more about military life.
Half a dozen members from the Central Savannah River Area traded in their work attire for the Army Combat Uniform and boots during Fort Gordon's 'Augusta in Army Boots' program Oct. 7 to 8.
The program is a 28-hour event that gives community leaders an opportunity to experience life as a Soldier. The goal is for participants to gain a better understanding of the military while broadening relationships between members of surrounding communities and Fort Gordon.
Each civilian was paired with a Soldier "battle buddy" from the brigade, whose role was to guide and support their civilian counterpart from beginning to end.
"It's really a two-way street," said Sgt. 1st Class James Millwood, noncommissioned officer in charge of AIAB, 67th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 35th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade. "It's for them to come on Fort Gordon to experience some of what we do, but it's also for us to get to interact with some of the key leaders from the community, and get to know who they are."
Participants received their first taste of the Army with a military style breakfast, paperwork, and a safety brief. Following a class on drill and ceremony, the group marched from Bicentennial Chapel to Victory Fitness Center, where they received ACU's, boots, body armor, loadbearing equipment, canteens, a Kevlar, and an (empty) M16A2 rifle they had to keep with them at all times.
Shortly after getting familiar with their gear, half of the participants took a load off and hit the gym mats for a condensed lesson in Modern Army Combatives, while the other half learned about military customs and courtesies. The latter was intended to familiarize civilians with military traditions, rank structure, and protocols. And while it did just that, the lesson evolved into a questionand answer session between Millwood, class facilitator, and participants.
"It shows a lot of interest and support from the community," Millwood said. "They're really involved in what's going on here."
The group then traveled by way of Humvee to the Engagement Skills Trainer and Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer. Inside the EST, participants were given a brief lesson the laws of warfare and rules of engagement before being tested on their firing abilities. Outside, civilians braced themselves for a ride of a lifetime.
"Being upside down in a Humvee was an experience like no other, and it was only a small dose of what Soldiers do," said Keshun Sherrill, junior at Georgia Regents University and point guard for the basketball team. "Just imagine being upside down with all your gear on -- that's 40 more pounds -- and you're under or near water trying to escape."
The group dined on Meals Ready to Eat for lunch, then moved to Training Area 14 where NCO's from the Regimental Signal Corps Noncommissioned Officer Academy set up training areas. It also housed everyone's sleeping quarters for the night, which consisted of tents, portable water tanks and bathrooms.
Soldiers taught civilians basic tactical maneuvers including how to react to an IED, entering and clearing a room, high and low crawling through mud and Constantine wire, and walking in formation when on a mission. After a few hours of training, the group traveled to Training Area 9 where they applied everything they learned during an intense field exercise that ended with a weapons cache discovery. It was a lesson in the value of communication for Susie Ferrara, community relations lead at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.
"It's not always black and white when you're out in the field," Ferrara said. "A situation that starts out friendly can turn in a moment, and you have to react and respond as a team."
At the end of the evening, dinner was provided in a tent that also served as a place and time for participants to get to know one another on a more personal level. It was without question one of the event's high points.
"Hearing these Soldiers' stories … people need to understand that these (Soldiers) are bright, they're talented, they're dedicated, they're patriotic, and I think they appreciate us just coming out and trying to understand a little more of what they do," Ferrara said.
Julie Parise, news reporter for WJBF News Channel 6, said the event gave her an even greater appreciation for the military than she already had.
"It's the littlest things you don't think about like having to carry their weapons everywhere, and they have to do this for days straight in 120 degree heat when they're deployed," Parise said. "It's something I could never do in real life."
In the morning, the group rose with sun and took part in physical training on Barton Field alongside other Fort Gordon Soldiers. Closing out the event, they were recognized during a graduation ceremony at Bicentennial Chapel before turning in equipment. Each participant received an ACU patrol cap, certificate, and was inducted into the Signal Regiment as an honorary second lieutenant.
Tired and caked in dry mud from the previous day's excursion, participants had stories of their own to take back.
"It's an excellent program," said Hubert Van Tuyll, a military history professor at GRU. "Some of my students are ROTC cadets, and I think I'll be able to talk to them better about what they might expect."
Social Sharing