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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Paratroopers from the
4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, held an
airborne operations demonstration day to educate students from Eagle
River's Gruening Middle School on the rigors of airborne training
here May 16, 2013.
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U.S. Army Pfc. Anthony Golden with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, instructs a student from Gruening Middle School how to safely and properly handle the M249 squad automatic weapon at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson May 16, 2013. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Eric-James Estrada)
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As part of the JBER School Partnership Program, Gruening
Middle School students received classes on how to conduct a
proper parachute landing fall, how to wear the parachute,
exit an aircraft with a static line, and how to safely hold
and operate various Army weapons, such as the M4 carbine at
the Airborne Sustainment Training Area.
The
program's objective is to provide the surrounding Anchorage,
Matanuska-Susitna and Kenai area communities greater
exposure to JBER missions and roles the Air Force and Army
play in supporting the nation's defense.
“The closer
we are to the community, the easier it is for them to
understand us and for us to understand them,” said U.S. Army
Lt. Col. Patrick S. Altenburg, commander of the 3rd
Battalion, 509th Infantry, 4-25 ABCT, hailing from
Cincinnati.
The Gold Geronimo commander expressed the
importance about informing and educating children on what it
is the military does on a daily basis.
“We have a
pretty close relationship with Gruening Middle School. We
have some soldiers who go over there and help them,” said
Altenburg. “This is our turn to help them and give back to
the middle school. Give them a good orientation on what we
do.”
Gruening Middle School has a high percentage of
military children in attendance making up 70 percent of the
student body.
“Gruening has such a high military
population and we have a goal to make sure the military
feels supported within our school system,” said Loi Luts, a
faculty member with Gruening Middle School. “I just think
that it's a fabulous way ... to be outside the classroom and
learn about resources and facilities that are so close to
them.”
By U.S. Army Sgt. Eric-James
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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