FORT STEWART, Ga. - A class of 86 sixth graders from Martha Puckett Middle School arrived at Fort Stewart Nov. 4 for a school field trip.
"This is a truly outstanding opportunity for both the students and the Soldiers," said 2nd Lt. Samuel Oh, the executive officer for the 90th Human Resources Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Third Infantry Division. "It allows for the young students to develop a positive interest in the Army at an early age. On the flipside, having the students watch in awe as the Soldiers carry out their routine operation helps the Soldiers realize that even their day-to-day task is actually quite extraordinary."
The first location the students visited was the STB motor pool, where Staff Sgt. Gregory Farris and his Soldiers staged military vehicles. The students, who were visibly excited at the sight of the vehicles that they had learned about in class, even managed to surprise some Soldiers by correctly guessing the model of vehicles.
"Before we visited Fort Stewart, the students had lots of classes relating to the military," explained Hollie Young, the teacher responsible for organizing the field trip. "Because of that, they are actually quite knowledgeable about some of the equipment."
Afterwards, students were taken to the 3rd Inf. Div. Museum and Warriors Walk. At the museum, they learned the various exploits of the 3rd Inf. Div. throughout the historic wars. For the tour of the Warriors Walk, students shared a somber moment for the Soldiers who paid the ultimate price. In the process of walking, they were asked to pick a name and to pray for that Soldier and his Family before eating lunch.
To cap it off, the students went to the Marne Lanes Bowling Alley for a game of bowling. Every time the students saw a Soldier, they would ask for their signature on their miniature-sized American flag.
"It just goes to show that these students see every Soldier as they ought to be seen--heroes," said Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Anderson, a platoon sergeant for 90th HRC.
As the field trip came to a close, some of the students were asked to raise their hand if they plan to join the Army. All of them raised their hands as quickly as they could, but they will have to wait for their parents' permission before they can start their paperwork.
Social Sharing