Photo By Sgt. Adam Garlington | Southern California football players visit with Maj. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard,...... read more read more
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By Spc. Adam Garlington
24th Press Camp Headquarters
FORT BLISS, Texas – The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Southern California Trojans football teams took the evening off from Sun Bowl preparations and learned how to soldier at the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 and Close Combat Tactical Trainer, here, Dec. 27.
The EST 2000 features an interactive movie screen that displays realistic marksmanship and combat training scenarios for common Army small-arms, crew-served and individual anti-tank weapons, like the M-4 carbine, M-9 pistol and M-249 squad automatic weapon.
The players wore interceptor body armor and Army Combat Helmets while firing at the EST 2000, and they discovered that Army equipment feels different than their football gear - it’s heavier.
“[It’s like wearing] five shoulder pads and two helmets,” said Robert Woods, USC wide receiver, as he compared the Army and football equipment. “You guys swim and run in the gear. You got it harder than us.”
Head and body protection are not the only similarities between soldiering and playing football. Throughout the evening, the players learned that both activities rely heavily on teamwork.
Two-year team veteran running back, Javorius Allen, USC sociology sophomore, who tried on Army gear said, “this is a great experience… I’ve never thought about joining the Army but coming to see [the soldiers and training] is pretty cool.”
Marquise Lee, 2012 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner, which is given to the nation’s top college receiver, said his USC teammates will use the “team mind-set” showcased by soldiers here during the Sun Bowl, Dec. 31.
“As soldiers go through war, they always stay together no matter what,” Lee said. “When a person is down, they make sure to go in there to get the job done and get them out. It’s a great mind set. When a teammate drops a ball or fumbles the ball, just make sure you stay together and continue to compete.”
The GT players were also impressed by the Army’s team concept. Anthony Williams, defensive end said, “It’s all about togetherness,” after his experience at the CCTT.
The CCTT is a warehouse of simulators that allows soldiers to rehearse moving, shooting and communicating on the battlefield by operating combat vehicles and employing simulated weapon systems during realistic combat scenarios.
Williams drove a Humvee through a simulated warzone, and his vehicle was attacked by enemy forces. He and his teammates had to work together to survive the attack and complete their mission.
“This is very good information, and it’s a lot of fun… it’s cool to come here, this post feels larger than my home town,” said YJ Freshman, Adrian Gardner, defense end, and native of Dawson, Ga.
Behind the CCTT warehouse, there was a military vehicle display that humbled David Sims, GT running back. He said the Abrams tank made him feel small, and he added that picking up the tank rounds were like lifting weights.
The humbling experience was shared on both sidelines as Matt Barkley, USC quarterback, discussed football and the military.
He said spending time with soldiers gave him a new perspective on life. He added that his team can learn from the soldiers’ dedication, perseverance and togetherness, and they can emulate it on the gridiron to “fight on” through adversity.
“Since an early age, I had an admiration for service men and women,” said the 2012 Wuerffel Trophy winner, which is given to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. “I look up to you guys a lot.”
“Whenever I want to complain, I think about you guys in Afghanistan standing out in 110 degrees weather while carrying things on your back through the desert. It makes it seem like it is not a big deal when you’re playing football.”
| Date Taken: | 12.27.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 12.28.2012 16:58 |
| Story ID: | 99789 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 361 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Team Bliss shows GT, USC football a different type of ‘team’, by SGT Adam Garlington, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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