Headquarters Battalion hosts Halloween Spooktacular

By Pfc. Jared SimmonsNovember 4, 2019

Headquarters Battalion hosts Halloween Spooktacular
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier dressed in character offers candy to a family at the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion Halloween party at HHBn's motorpool on Fort Riley, Kansas, October 29th, 2019. The Soldier was participating in HHBn's trunk or treat section of th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Headquarters Battalion hosts Halloween Spooktacular
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers and their Families participate in a wagon ride at the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion Halloween party at HHBn's motor pool at Fort Riley, Kansas, on October 29, 2019. The wagon ride was offered by the Commanding General's Mounted Col... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Headquarters Battalion hosts Halloween Spooktacular
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Family navigates a haunted house in the Headquarters Service Company building on Fort Riley, Kansas, on October 29th, 2019. The haunted house was created by HSC as part of the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion Halloween party. (U.S. Army Phot... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Headquarters Battalion hosts Halloween Spooktacular
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier dressed in character offers candy from the back of his car at the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion halloween event on Fort Riley, October 29, 2019. The character was participating in the trunk or treat section of the Halloween party.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Headquarters Battalion hosts Halloween Spooktacular
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A child poses at a static display at the Signal Intelligence Sustainment Company building on Fort Riley, on October 29, 2019. The static display was set up as part of the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion Halloween party. (U.S. Army photo by Pf... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RILEY, Kan.-- Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, hosted a Halloween event for Soldiers and Families on October 29 at Fort Riley, Kansas.

The community-building event offered the battalion an opportunity to give back to its Soldiers and their Families.

"We focus a lot on our training, readiness and equipment readiness," said Lt. Col. John Brock, battalion commander for HHBN. "It's important to take a step back and ensure that our Family readiness is high too. The Army is one of those organizations that takes care of its Families and not just the Soldiers."

The event was a joint effort by HHBN's Headquarters Service Company and Signal Intelligence Sustainment company. The Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard and the 19th Public Affairs Detachment also helped out with the event.

SIS company hosted a family-friendly party with decorations, food and drinks, and a costume contest. The 19th PAD also created a static display within the SIS company area where Families could have a photo taken and sent to them after the event.

Inside, HSC created a haunted house complete with decorations and live volunteer actors. Outside, a trunk or treat event was available for children to get candy and the CGMCG gave free hayrides in a horse-drawn wagon.

"It was very family oriented, fun and well decorated," said Spc. Annelise Boyington, a Soldier in attendance with a child. "There were a lot of different events for everybody."

Participation and attendance at the event impressed the battalion's leadership.

"This far exceeded my expectations," Brock said. "A lot of people worked hard to put this together, and they should be recognized."

HHBN is planning to host more Soldier and Family-oriented events in the future. Among the planned events are a holiday party and a kid-friendly military ball.