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GATESVILLE, Texas – More than 200 sixth-grade students from
Gatesville Intermediate School gathered in their cafeteria to kick
off their annual career day chaired by Becky Coward, the school's
guidance counselor.
Coward secured 22 professionals with
varying work backgrounds to speak to the children about their
respective careers.
In preparation for the day's events,
Coward had each of the children rank their top three professions.
The day of, she was able to split them into small groups and move
them in a circuit fashion to discuss their top three potential jobs
of interest.
One professional area available to the children
came from, Capt. Julian Benitezpenuelas, Headquarters and
Headquarters Company commander for the 120th Infantry Brigade,
Division West. He coordinated for several of his colleagues to
attend and speak to the wide-eyed sixth-graders about what it means
to be in the U.S. military.
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Students from Gatesville Intermediate
School look at a M777A2 howitzer while Spc. Matthew Allen with Alpha
Battery, Fires Squadron, 3rd Cavarly Regiment, stands by to answer
questions during the school's career day in Gatesville, Texas on
December 13, 2013. (Photo by Capt. Soutira Graham, 120th Infantry
Brigade, Division West Public Affairs)
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To give the kids more contexts, Benitezpenuelas also
invited soldiers from Alpha Battery, Fires Squadron, 3rd
Cavalry Regiment to give a demonstration on the M777A2
howitzer.
The adolescents asked an array of questions
such as, “How big are the bullets [you shoot],” or “Why do
you fire so many rounds at night?”
Sgt. 1st Class Edward Mullin, 120th noncommissioned
officer, responded with a motto from his specific branch in
the Army, the Infantry - “We own the night.” Mullin went on
to explain that soldiers must be both proficient at both day
and night to be effective.
Capt. Robert Jones, a
120th Infantry officer, addressed a number of the more
hard-hitting questions that the children posed regarding
training, ammo and equipment.
Capt. Sarah Gilbert,
executive officer at one of the 120th battalions, offered
insight into the delicate family/work-life balance that many
soldiers frequently have to manage.
Benitezpenuelas
posed a question to one of the groups, asking what the
children might want to do should any of them decide to join
the Army.
The answers from the group ranged from
tanker, sniper and mechanic.
“This is your day to
learn, investigate and explore what you may want to do in
the future,” said Coward in her introductory speech for the
career day.
The 120th was honored to support the
Gatesville Intermediate School.
As part of their
community partnership, the school made sure to enlist the
assistance of the 120th. Walking down the hallways at the
completion of the career day, many of the young children
politely thanked the service members for protecting the
country.
The 120th visits the Gatesville Intermediate
School children on a weekly basis to spend time mentoring
them during their lunch hour.
By U.S. Army 1st Lt. Kat Kaliski
120th Infantry Brigade,
Division West Public Affairs
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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