3-4 CAV joins Ka'Ala Elementary School in Christmas toy drive

By Sgt. Katelyn VazquezDecember 4, 2022

3-4 CAV joins Ka'Ala Elementary School in Christmas toy drive
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division arrive at the Ka’Ala Elementary School in Wahiawa, HI, Dec. 1, 2022. The soldiers completed a ruck march to Ka’Ala Elementary School to deliver donated gifts in hopes of supporting the school and children during the holiday season. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez/28th Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Soldiers with the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division deliver gifts to the Ka’Ala Elementary School in Wahiawa, HI, Dec. 1, 2022. The soldiers completed a ruck march to Ka’Ala Elementary School to deliver donated gifts in hopes of supporting the school and children during the holiday season. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez/28th Public Affairs Detachment)
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Soldiers with the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division deliver gifts to the Ka’Ala Elementary School in Wahiawa, HI, Dec. 1, 2022. The soldiers completed a ruck march to Ka’Ala Elementary School to deliver donated gifts in hopes of supporting the school and children during the holiday season. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez/28th Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Nearly 150 Soldiers with Santa hats and ruck sacks full of gifts marched to Ka’Ala Elementary School in Wahiawa, Hawaii to spread the holiday spirit as the sun rose behind them Dec. 1, 2022.

The 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division participated in an almost 4-mile ruck march to deliver approximately 300 toys to their partner school.

U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division pose for a photo with Sam Bennett, the principal of the Ka’Ala Elementary School in Wahiawa, HI, Dec. 1, 2022. The soldiers completed a ruck march to Ka’Ala Elementary School to deliver donated gifts in hopes of supporting the school and children during the holiday season. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez/28th Public Affairs Detachment)
U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division pose for a photo with Sam Bennett, the principal of the Ka’Ala Elementary School in Wahiawa, HI, Dec. 1, 2022. The soldiers completed a ruck march to Ka’Ala Elementary School to deliver donated gifts in hopes of supporting the school and children during the holiday season. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez/28th Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

“Today we’re reigniting our partnership with the 3-4 CAV from Schofield,” explained Sam Bennett, the Ka’Ala Elementary School principal. “Through COVID, it was difficult to continue that partnership, but now that we’re back together we’re working with them, we really appreciate their donations today. It’s for the Ka’Ala Kares Program, where over the holidays we’re able to provide gifts to our families here in Wahiawa.”

The 3-4 Cav regiment’s contributions to the Ka’Ala Kares program and the warm welcomes of the school’s staff have continuously demonstrated a perfect example of the squadron’s desire to return support to the surrounding communities.

U.S. Army Sgt. Jasmin DeFilippo, a wheeled vehicle mechanic from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division poses for a photo after arriving at the Ka’Ala Elementary School in Wahiawa, HI, Dec. 1, 2022. The soldiers completed a ruck march to Ka’Ala Elementary School to deliver donated gifts in hopes of supporting the school and children during the holiday season. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez/28th Public Affairs Detachment)
U.S. Army Sgt. Jasmin DeFilippo, a wheeled vehicle mechanic from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division poses for a photo after arriving at the Ka’Ala Elementary School in Wahiawa, HI, Dec. 1, 2022. The soldiers completed a ruck march to Ka’Ala Elementary School to deliver donated gifts in hopes of supporting the school and children during the holiday season. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez/28th Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

“We’re donating gifts, the children will be wrapping the gifts, and the staff of the school will distribute the gifts accordingly to families in need,” said Sgt. Jasmin DeFilippo, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the 3-4 CAV. “We just rucked out here with gifts in our ruck sacks, spreading some holiday cheer.”

Throughout the 25th Infantry Division, units are partnered with different schools across Oahu, and involvement often reflects mutual interest and command influence.

Supporting the Ka’Ala Elementary School and the Wahiawa community is instrumental to the Raider Squadron to being a good neighbor.

U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division pose for a photo with the children at Ka’Ala Elementary School in Wahiawa, HI, Dec. 1, 2022. The soldiers completed a ruck march to Ka’Ala Elementary School to deliver donated gifts in hopes of supporting the school and children during the holiday season. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez/28th Public Affairs Detachment)
U.S. Army Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division pose for a photo with the children at Ka’Ala Elementary School in Wahiawa, HI, Dec. 1, 2022. The soldiers completed a ruck march to Ka’Ala Elementary School to deliver donated gifts in hopes of supporting the school and children during the holiday season. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katelyn Vazquez/28th Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

“I think it’s important to the school two-fold,” said Bennett. “Number one, it shows the children that our Wahiawa community, including the Soldiers, care about them, and secondly, we do appreciate that we’re all able to work together. We look forward to Military Appreciation Day where we can give back to support the soldiers as well.”

With COVID restrictions in the past, both the Raider Squadron and Ka’Ala Elementary School look forward to participating in more engagements throughout the year to build their school partnership.