Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division participated in Mighty 8th Boot Camp activities, giving campers an inside look of "Army Life" in Pooler, Ga. June 15.
Mighty 8th summer camps are week-long day camps which immerse the kids in different aspects of military history. The camp also teaches some basic skills that Soldiers acquire during basic training.
"The camp gives kids the opportunity to interact with Soldiers, see how challenging Army life could be, also learn a new skill set," said Heather Thies, director of education for the camp. "It's also a great opportunity for kids to be outside during summer instead of always being indoors playing video games."
Activities on the camp agenda included learning about basic safety, military tactics, medical training and battle drills. The campers participated in learning basic military customs and courtesies. The kids also used an m4 carbine Replica Training aid, known commonly as a rubber duck.
"The kids most enjoyed getting to use m4 and m249 rubber ducks as their weapons when we practiced our battle drills in the woods at the end of each day" said 1st Lt. Roger DeGeorges, a platoon leader in Company D, 3-7 Inf.
The summer camp created an environment for Soldiers and children to bond, and for the kids to learn some military skills.
"This event is good for the community because it allows the children to interact with Soldiers and realize that we can be relaxed and fun, not just battle hardened Soldiers that they presume we are like from movies they watch," Degeorges said. "It is also good because it provides the children with basic, but essential, skills just as weapons safety and first aid training that can actually pay dividends down the road."
Social Sharing