Photo By Maj. Joseph Odorizzi | Boy Scouts of America from Troop 1202, Irving, Texas, pose for a photo in front of an...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, Texas – Soldiers from the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) facilitated a Dallas-Fort Worth area Boy Scout troop visit here Sept. 26-28.
Troop 1202 from the Long Horn Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America travelled to Fort Hood Friday for a weekend tour of the installation. Approximately 45 scouts participated in the visit and received a thorough tour of the installation and its facilities. Additionally, they got to interact with 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers who were on hand to showcase their equipment and skills.
“My overall goal was to provide them with an experience they would never forget,” said Capt. John Vidikis, operations and plans officer for the 13th SC(E), who coordinated the event. “I tried to look at it from their perspective and think of what type of activities they would like to do beyond just a general tour of the installation.”
The troop arrived Friday evening and stayed in barracks at North Fort Hood. On Saturday, their first stop was at the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division motor pool.
Soldiers from 2-5 Cav. Regt. were on hand to provide a static display of vehicles such as the M2A3 Bradley, M1A2 Abrams and HMMWV with Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS-3). The scout troop received informational briefings on the equipment and were allowed to climb into the gunner and driver stations for a firsthand perspective.
Following their visit to 2-5 Cav. Regt., the troop visited the 1st Cav. Div. Museum and received simulated marksmanship training at the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST). In the afternoon, the troop travelled to the 1st Cav. Div. Horse Detachment where they visited the stables and received an up close view of the horses and ceremonial equipment.
The last unit visit of the afternoon was at the aircraft hangar of the 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. There the troop received an informational briefing on the AH-64D Apache Longbow and were allowed to climb into the cockpit for an overview of the aircraft and its flight systems.
“The visit was so well done – from the tracked vehicle display, small arms trainer, and aircraft,” said retired Army Col. Steven Minear, troop leader. “Our (military) escorts did a fabulous job. The Soldiers we interacted with were very professional.”
Minear is a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Army and spent his entire career in the Corps of Engineers.
“The scouts said it was the best campout they’ve had. This was a surprise visit for them, and many of them have had zero exposure to the military. They were excited to stay in the barracks, and the highlight for many of them was the obstacle course,” said Minear.
Along with the showcase of Army equipment, museum and horse stable tour, the scouts also received firsthand experience of the day-to-day lives of Fort Hood Soldiers. They got to eat in the dining facility, live in barracks, and conduct an hour long physical training session.
“The most rewarding part of the day was hearing the young scouts talk about how impressed they were with the Soldiers and how many of them hoped to one day follow in their footsteps,” said Vidikis. “I heard more than one say they wanted to grow up to be a Bradley driver and that their favorite part of the day was doing PT.”
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2014 17:47 |
| Story ID: | 143849 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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