FORT RILEY, Kan. " Twenty-one area educators participated in the Day in the Life of a Soldier program June 9.
Kurt Barnhart, representative from Kansas State University at Salina; Clint Strutt, Army Community Service Personnel Financial Readiness specialist; and Steve Elstrom, Public Affairs Office webmaster also participated in the event.
The purpose of the Child, Youth and School Services event was to show participants what it is like to be a Soldier. In its third year, the event had even more Soldier participation than previous years, said Sandy Johnson, school liaison officer, CYSS.
The purpose of the event was to aid educators in understanding the lives of students who have parents in the military. Activities included a breakfast, meals-ready-to-eat lunch, engagement skills training, static display, tour of Fort Riley, a test and a question-and-answer session.
“Anytime we can get the word out about the scope of what a Soldier does, the teachers that deal with the children can better understand what’s going on with the students,” said Capt. Vince Benz, operations, Division of Engineering, 1st Infantry Division, who assisted with the event.
Benz said participating in Day in the Life didn’t feel like work for the Soldiers who volunteered to help because they are “passionate” about what they do.
“The Soldiers are really engaged, and the teachers really enjoyed it,” Benz said.
Three Soldiers portrayed “squad leaders” for the attendees, who were divided into three groups for the activities. Squad leaders were Staff Sgts. Latasha Burnett, Scott Shrout and Zachary Hargrove, Headquarters Support Company, Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Inf. Div. Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Anderson and Sgt. 1st Class Robert Ford, both with DHHB, 1st Inf. Div., also assisted the group throughout the entire day.
Other Soldiers added their expertise at the static displays, which included CH-47 Chinook, UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters, as well as a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle " all of which participants were able to sit in.
“You made my day,” said Peggy Crubel, Riley County Middle School teacher, thanking the Soldiers.
Crubel said her students will think she is “cool” when they see photos from the day.
Charles Sprott, Manhattan High School East Campus principal, said he had never really been on post before, calling the day a “great experience.”
“Everyone should have that opportunity " every educator who works with military students,” Sprott said.
Johnson said the event was “very successful” because it “continues to reinforce the network between military and schools.”
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