Apr 3 - Fort Jackson - U.S. Army

News
Cadre demonstrates Soldiering skills to students
Spc. Joshua Davis
1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment
Students from Dent Middle School recently
learned that Soldiers are people, too.
About a dozen permanent-party Soldiers
from 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment
participated in the school’s
Multicultural Diversity Awareness Day
March 20 with static displays and demonstrations.
“It was a great way to teach the students
about some of the Army’s basic Soldiering
skills,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Guenter
Nyanankpe, the battalion’s chaplain.“We
were able to give a small glimpse to these
students about what the Army is all about.”
The Soldiers set up five stations for the
students.They included weapons,
grenades, tactical vehicles, NBC gear and
protective gear.
Gary Randall, Dent principal, said that
he knows the Soldiers at Fort Jackson do
more than protect and serve.
“It’s great to have the Soldiers reinforce
both positive male and female role models
for our children,” Randall said.“There is a
long-standing tradition between this school
and Fort Jackson that serves a real purpose.”
Several teachers were overheard thank-
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ing Soldiers for being at the event.
“The students had a good time interfacing
with the Soldiers of 1-34, and they really
learned something as well,” said Kelly
Brown, Advancement Via Individual Determination
teacher at Dent.
“Diversity Awareness Day helps all
types of people come together and better
understand each other,” said Marc-James
Redwine, eighth grader at Dent.“My dad
is in the Army and it takes a lot of support
from a Soldier’s family members to help
make his or her assignment successful.
“The cadre and drill sergeants from 1-
34 were polite and the Soldiers enjoyed answering
questions from the student body,”
Marc-James said.“It’s more difficult to be
a Soldier than most people think.”
“The gear is so heavy,” said Nyjee
Smith, 11, who tried on Nuclear, Biological
and Chemical masks.“I got a chance to
throw some (simulated) grenades and that
was cool!”
Nyanankpe said the Army displays received
a great response from the students.
“I think the students enjoyed learning
about what Soldiers do every day,”
Nyanankpe said.“We were excited to be a
part of the school’s activities and to be able
to share the Army story with so many.”
Dawud Agbere MAJ USA Chaplain School
Ibraheem Raheem MAJ Installation Management Command
Dax Burroughs CPT Co.A, 187th Ord.Bn.
Christopher Devenport 1LT Co.D, 3rd Bn., 13th Inf.Reg.
Bradley Heinley 1LT Co.B, 369th Adjutant General Bn.
Darren Templeton 1LT Co.C, 3rd Bn., 34th Inf.Reg.
Sadie Supinger 1LT USA MEDDAC
Cornella Bellamy MSG USA MEDDAC
Billy Tingle Jr.MSG Co.C, 120th Adjutant General Bn.
George Byrd SFC Co.B, 3rd Bn., 34th Inf.Reg.
Hassan Carter SFC Drill Sergeant School
Daniel Price SFC Co.A, Warrior Transition Unit
Dwight Turpin SFC Co.E, 3rd Bn., 34th Inf.Reg.
Paul Helfman SSG Co.B, 120th Adjutant General Bn.
Francisco Paganborrero SSG Co.E, 3rd Bn., 13th Inf.Reg.
Christopher Calais SGT HHC, 165th Inf.Bde.
Photo by Spc. Joshua Davis
Sgt. Bruce Cobbledick explains an M203 grenade launcher to Dent Middle School
students during the school’s Multicultural Diversity Awareness Day March 20.