Fort Huachuca, Arizona--Military training instructors' schedules can be so demanding that they do not always have time to become familiar with installation or local resources available to them.
So, for the fourth year, Soldiers from the 305th Military Intelligence Battalion, 111th MI Brigade, coordinated a Resiliency Rodeo to connect cadre and instructors to the Fort Huachuca and community organizations available to enable them to better assist their students. Nearly 400 Soldiers visited agency booths June 3 in the Eiffler Fitness Center. "We want people to know that we are here to support them," said Rosa Peralta, Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP).
"Most of the time, instructors are so busy with their [Programs of Instruction] we communicate with other agencies by email rather than face-to-face. [Through the Resiliency Rodeo], we get to see what's out there," said Master Sgt. Adam Powell, an instructor assigned to Alpha Company, 305th MI Bn.
"I like to stay current on the programs available to Soldiers and that's why I'm here," said Sgt. 1st Class Mark Johns, an instructor with Alpha Company, 305th MI Bn.
Participating organizations included Army Substance Abuse Program; Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Prevention Program; Army Community Service; Directorate of Family & Morale, Welfare and Recreation; Fort Huachuca Fire Department; Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers; Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center's Preventive Medicine section; 305th MI Bn. Motorcycle Mentor Program, and more. At least one off-post agency, the Sierra Vista Unified School District, also participated.
The program was originally designed for cadre and instructors, but there was an added benefit. Newly assigned civilians working for the various agencies also received exposure to other locally available resources and had a chance to network with employees. This will better enable them to direct personnel to other potential sources of aid if their agency can't help.
"I'm fairly new here," said Mike Turrieta, an employee with the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. "This event is an opportunity to meet people from other agencies and learn what they do."
Soldiers and Civilians walked from table to table interacting with program representatives, collecting pamphlets, booklets and other items offered, or participated in interactive activities. One Preventive Medicine activity involved spinning a wheel and matching a sexually transmitted disease with its symptoms. Other displays showcased programs such as motorcycle riding classes for active duty military, Drug Awareness Resistance Education or fire extinguisher inspection training.
Using their Common Access Cards, Soldiers from the 305th MI Bn. signed in to the Resiliency Rodeo. That way, battalion leadership could identify the Soldiers who attended and those who did not.
"That way, we'll know who needs to attend a future Resiliency Rodeo," said a Soldier staffing the sign-in area. "We want to give as many personnel as possible an opportunity to learn about the available resources they or their students can use."
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