Photo By Pfc. Savannah Olvera | Staff Sgt. Jason Wilkerson, a Soldier with the Mountain Training Group, 10th Mountain...... read more read more
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FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Jan. 24, 2025) – Local fifth-grade students from Harold T. Wiley Middle School had the valuable opportunity to participate in hands-on training with Soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (LI) Mountain Training Group, Fort Drum, New York, Jan. 24, 2025.
Instructors from the Mountain Training Group visited the Fort Drum STARBASE Academy to provide their expertise and support.
“We went over several knots with students, getting them a good introduction to mountaineering and the functions of different knots and how they can use them as young kids,” said Sgt. Isaac Kirk, a Soldier assigned to the Mountain Training Group.
The hands-on experience provided a unique opportunity for students to connect with military professionals and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of teamwork. It also gave students a chance to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) ideas in real-life situations, helping them improve their thinking skills while working together as a team.
“I think it’s really cool, especially as a kid, to hear adults talk about their work, especially when it’s something interesting,” said Kirk. “In a military sense, it’s great for boys and girls to look up to potential future careers and get the chance to talk to people in those fields who can share their experiences and shed light on what it's actually like.”
Joanne Witt, the director of the Fort Drum STARBASE Academy, talked about how the program helps kids explore STEM through fun, hands-on activities.
“We bring education to them in a way that you can't in a traditional classroom setting,” said Witt. “When I was a former teacher, I had a curriculum that I had to follow and different mannerisms of teaching, and it was more talking to the students. Here, we're able to show them instead of telling them.”
Spc. James Scott, a Soldier assigned to the Mountain Training Group, also highlighted how the skills taught today go beyond just mountaineering.
“When people think about the military, they often think it’s all about combat,” said Scott. “But what we covered today, skills like hauling and lowering, can be used in everyday situations, whether for rescue or equipment handling. These aren’t just military skills, they’re practical tools that can be applied to many different areas of life.”
| Date Taken: | 01.24.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.05.2025 09:42 |
| Story ID: | 489666 |
| Location: | FORT DRUM, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 102 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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