Photo By Molly Cooke | Cpt. Joseph Whitley, commander of the 497th Multi-Role Bridge Company, 92nd Engineer...... read more read more
Seventy-ton floating tanks. This was the last thing participants on the latest Come Meet Your Army tour expected to see as they ventured on post yesterday to grab a glimpse of what Army life is like behind the fence at Fort Stewart.
The Come Meet Your Army tour provides community members and newcomers with an inside look of the 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart garrison. The tour occurs once per quarter.
A first for the CMYA tour, participants had the opportunity to interact with 3rd ID Soldiers while witnessing a wet gap crossing training exercise at Fort Stewart’s Pineview Lake. The crossing was part of a multi-day training exercise hosted by the 497th Multi-Role Bridge Company, 92nd Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, and 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID.
Showcasing the 3rd Infantry Division’s capabilities to the community was an added bonus on top of an already successful training event.
“The importance of this training is to build sets and reps while getting units across the water but primarily validating that the American Army has the capability to get maneuvered to do what it does best, close distances and destroy the enemy,” said Capt. Joseph Whitley, commander of the 497th MRBC.
The Come Meet Your Army Tour, now in its second year, was created as a way to help bridge the gap between the community and the installation. Since it’s conception, the tour hasn’t just grown in its offerings, but in its size as well. Yesterday’s tour included nearly 60 participants, ranging from local high school students, retiree groups, garrison employees, Georgia Southern University staff, and local community members.
In addition to the wet gap crossing, participants took a windshield tour of the installation, ate lunch with the Fort Stewart Garrison Command Team at the 3rd Infantry Division Artillery Warrior Dining Facility, and took a walk among the 469 white blooming crepe myrtle trees that make up the 3rd Infantry Division’s living memorial honoring the 3rd ID Soldiers who were lost during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
“It’s been so great to be able to bring my students out here,” said Russ Carpenter, Richmond Hill High School Military History teacher and Mayor of Richmond Hill. “It was really something special and something that they won’t ever forget.”
The tour concluded with a visit to the 3rd ID history museum.
“Come Meet Your Army is an opportunity for members of the general public to come to Fort Stewart and learn about the history of the 3rd Infantry Division and our installation services,” said Dina McKain, Fort Stewart Community Relations Chief and tour organizer. “It’s a little window into what goes on behind the gates here and we are thrilled to be able to share the wonderful things we do here with our neighbors outside the gates.”
The next ‘Come Meet Your Army’ tour is scheduled for Dec. 7. To register, email Dina.m.McKain.civ@army.mil or call 912-210-9374.
| Date Taken: | 09.22.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2023 12:35 |
| Story ID: | 454059 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 78 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Tour group dips toe in Army experience, witness wet gap crossing, by Molly Cooke, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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