defense witness Nov. 14 in the Office of Staff Judge Advocate. The children made a visit to th... VIEW ORIGINAL
CASEY GARRISON, South Korea - Kindergarten children reached a verdict in a court and operated a virtual tank when 53 Pullip Kindergarten School children were invited Nov. 13 to the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate General at USAG-Casey.
Pullip Kindergarten, located near USAG-Casey, is a local institution who educates children in a traditional manner. The purpose of the visit was for them to get acquainted with the Army installation here.
"Since Dongducheon is known as a military camp-side town, people outside think badly of it," said Kim, Jong-sun, Pullip Kindergarten headmistress. "Children may have this negative attitude. I hope they become proud of their town by understanding how the Korean and U.S. Army installations serve their country. Also, I wanted them to look at the U.S. Army as a friend or neighbor instead of occupation forces."
After being greeted by the legal staff in the office, the children participated in a mock trial, a simplified legal scenario, which imitated a real court.
The scenario of the day was about a military officer charged with assault. He struck his subordinate who supposedly tried to steal his wallet, but claimed he merely intended to give it back to his boss.
Seated in a jury box, 12 children came to the conclusion the officer was not guilty because the theft took place first.
"This mock trial was a show for children," said Capt. Ronald Freeman, chief of legal assistance. "This was the first time we have done this while I have been here. I think it is a great program to introduce the children to what we do in a real military court."
Next, they made a visit to the Close Combat Tactical Trainer, the virtual simulation trainer used for mechanized infantry units. After getting a short briefing, the children actually got into a virtual tank, which displays a combat environment and played with it for a while. Although the Trainer was originally installed for training, it was enough for the children to get familiar with what Soldiers do.
Since there is not an official Good Neighbor Program for young children, Kim looked to one of her friends, Cho, Mi-kyong, who works at the Casey Legal Center, which began a relationship between the legal office and the children of the class.
"We are happy to have them here," Freeman said. "They were able to come on post, eat lunch, and just hang out with us. I think these things help children find it easier to be around us, and it make us realize we are here for more than just a one-year tour. I think it is great to have children demystified about what we are and why U.S. Soldiers are in their country."
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