For 16-year-old Evelyn Beschta, seeing the Army represented at the 90th annual National Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo meant an opportunity to learn more about becoming a Soldier.
"I was excited because I actually want to go in the Army," she said. "I want to serve my country."
Beschta was one of 65,000 people to attend the convention at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis October 25-27, where Soldiers and civilians from U.S. Army Marketing and Engagement Brigade helped connect the teens with the Army.
At Fort Knox, USAMEB supports Army outreach and accessions by providing rolling displays and static exhibits operated by its Mission Support Battalion. Mobile and static displays provide a backdrop where Army recruiters and ROTC cadre can engage potential recruits and the people who influence them.
The brigade also includes the historic U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and the U.S. Army Parachute Team, known as the Golden Knights.
More than 649,000 NFFA members in grades seven through 12 participate in agricultural education instructional programs throughout all 50 states and three U.S. territories. FFA encourages personal and career growth through agricultural education. The four-day convention promotes leadership and educates NFFA members about strengthening local communities and agriculture. It also provides recruiters an extraordinary opportunity to reach thousands of teens and their families.
The Army attends the annual event to increase understanding and appreciation of the benefits and value of U.S. Army service and highlight education, career and leadership opportunities, according to USAMEB spokesman Terry Keeling.
"We engage highly qualified prospects, influencers and [centers of influence] to become active advocates of U.S. Army service by providing a U.S. Army experience that communicates the value of being a U.S. Army Soldier and the competitive opportunities that the Army has to offer," said Keeling.
Shortly after the Army packed a 6,400-square-foot area on the convention floor with a fitness challenge, working dog display, and USAMEB rolling exhibits NFFA members packed the Army footprint to tackle the different activities. Visitors also had the opportunity to speak with Soldiers and AMU team members about their experiences.
"It's been busy," said Staff Sgt. Erin McNeil, from AMU. "In the last hour, we've had about 75 people come through."
Assets at the convention included a Mobile Usability Lab Exhibit, or MULE, a laser shot demo in Army Adventure Trailer 2 and a weapons display.
The MULE is one of the battalion's premiere exhibits, focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics while telling the Army story. The rolling laboratory experience includes a sand table, virtual reality goggles, impaired driving simulator and HUMVEE driving simulator, where participants work as teams to navigate a course.
Staff Sgt. Thomas Fleischer, an exhibitor on the MULE for the past seven months, estimated the exhibit saw around 400 visitors a day during the convention. Fleischer is one of a platoon of Soldiers from the battalion's Mobile Exhibit Company that transport and set up more than a dozen exhibits across the U.S. each year.
"In the MULE, there are great discussions about our story and the history of the Army, and most importantly what the Army has to offer," Fleischer said. "The most important thing that happens in the MULE is seeing the light turn on in people's eyes when the think they can join the Army team."
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