Regardless of what one expects as a new recruit waiting to leave home and begin Army basic training, what they actually experience in Army life will be somewhat different.
Soldiers assigned to the 96th Transportation Company (96TC), 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (553CSSB), 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade (1CDSB), took it upon themselves to educate new and potential soldiers about Army life when they hosted more than 30 recruits from the Harker Heights Recruiting Center to their company area on Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 15.
"Events like this give the civilian community the opportunity to see a day in the life of a soldier," said Staff Sgt. Leroy Betts, recruiter, Harker Heights Recruiting Center.
Soldiers set up several stations around the motor pool, each with a different vehicle or piece of equipment the company uses on a daily basis and a demonstration of how it works.
"This is giving recruits a chance to see Army life," said 1st Sgt. Quincy Rice, first sergeant, 96TC, 553CSSB, 1CDSB. "Hopefully, it opens up a new perspective for them and gets them excited about joining the Army."
Recruit handled a variety of weapons, donned body armor vests and chemical protective gear, assembled field radios and sat in vehicles.
"I couldn't believe how heavy that body armor was, but I liked putting it on," said Frankie Whittaker, 18, a recruit from Copperas Cove who leaves for basic training Oct. 2.
Spc. Michael Shannon, heavy wheeled vehicle operator, 96TC, 553CSSB, 1CDSB, said the recruits seemed to really enjoy how hands on the training was, but there were mental benefits for them asking questions and interacting with soldiers who may have been in their shoes only a couple years before.
"I remember when I joined and was waiting to ship out to basic training, there were a lot of nerves because I wasn't exactly sure what to expect," said Shannon. "I think events like this helps these recruits who may be feeling the same way I did because they can see up close the things we do, and it's great for the soldiers because it breaks up our daily routine."
"This really helped me out because it gave me a heads up on what to expect," said Whittaker. "I never really saw myself being a soldier, but after seeing all this stuff today, I can't wait."
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