Photo By Master Sgt. Victor Gardner | Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Lawler, assigned to the Western Army Intelligence...... read more read more
DUBLIN, Calif. – The Tri-Valley Special Olympics Basketball Skills challenge was held at Pleasanton Middle School in Pleasanton, California March 3, 2015. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 363rd Regiment, 120th Infantry Brigade, Division West, partnered with Sailors and Airmen from the Western Army Intelligence Support Center (WARISC), from Parks Reserve Training Area, in order to support the Special Olympics event.
When faced with the challenge of organizing a group of Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen to complete a task, you might think about various differences and how to merge them all. I was placed in a position to lead the three services as we represented the military during the event. Thanks to the great working relationship Dublin High School’s Transition program has with 363rd, and the relationship Tri-Valley has with Camp Parks, my job was very simple.
I spoke with Ms. Bree LeMoine, Dublin High School Transition Instructor, about pairing service members with each school as a teammate or coach to provide their team a personal military advocate. We briefly discussed how the students and other teachers would possibly use their service member and then executed the plan of action.
As I took pictures and interacted with everyone, I noticed that the service members were having just as much fun as the students. From teaming up with their students to recording the day’s events for the instructor, the service member’s time and help were appreciated.
“So many people came up to me afterwards and said they loved having their own Soldier for their kids,” LeMoine said. “I think it’s awesome that we did it this way, this year, because everyone now wants their own military person for our events.”
I too received some of the same complements on how the students interacted with all of the service members. The feel was not a one way street. Spc. Jeffery Lam, Special Events Coordinator for the WARISC, stated that he would like to become more involved in activities like this one.
“We had a great time hanging out with these kids,” Lam said. “Please let me know the next time because we have a lot of people who would love to volunteer.”
Lam was not the only service member from his unit to share the positive feelings about the event. Petty Officer 2nd Class Johnathon Furr endorsed the partnership and commitment to the students after the event had completed.
“It felt great! The students seemed to enjoy themselves and appreciate us being there,” Furr said. “Their smiles and exuberance are definitely contagious and serve as a great reminder as to why we do what we do. It was a great way for me to re-examine what it means ‘to protect and serve.’”
Army sergeant Sgt. Ashley Gonzalez, of the WARISC, believes that community outreach is a wonderful thing and she can’t wait to volunteer again.
“I would love the opportunity to be able to work with these great kids in some capacity and be a part of the community that really cares,” Gonzalez said. “Every child deserves a little help sometimes, and if I can give that help, I will do my part.”
As I watched service members from both 363rd and WARISC bring something extra special to the Special Olympics, I saw how the students impacted the service members even more so than the service members impacting them. For two consecutive school years, members of the 363rd have devoted two days out of the week to mentor and coach Dublin High School’s Transition students. Ms. LeMoine would love to see service members from Camp Parks partner with other schools in the Tri-Valley.
“Look for yourself,” LeMoine said. “These kids are having a great time. Don’t you think it would be great to have your guys [service members] helping out all over?”
According to Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Kreiberg, Camp Parks Garrison command sergeant major, LeMoine might be right as he would like to see more members from the 363rd, WARISC and Camp Parks plan to do more within the community.
The 363rd Training Support Battalion, 120th Infantry Brigade, Division West, supports units throughout the complete training cycle to achieve collective training readiness in accordance with United States Armed Forces Command, First Army and 120th Infantry Brigade directives in building competent and capable units able to meet the Army Force Generation requirements.
| Date Taken: | 03.03.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2015 17:57 |
| Story ID: | 157830 |
| Location: | PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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