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Soldiers Educating Educators

By Sgt. William Hill, Camp Atterbury Public Affairs

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - Educators closed books, laid down their chalk and picked up an M4 carbine assault rifle, rappelled off a 45 foot tower and experienced a vehicle roll-over. Not a normal day at school, unless Soldiers are teaching the curriculum. Educators from colleges across Indiana visited Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., to develop a better understanding of military training by participating in a Military Activity Day, supported by Indiana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense agency.

Educators from colleges and universities across Indiana repel down a 45 feet tall repel tower during Military Activity Day supported by Indiana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve a Department of Defense agency at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. Other activities included firing an M4 carbine assault rifle; eating lunch with Soldiers; participating in vehicle roll-over training; and a tour of Camp Atterbury. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

Educators along with local media, took a tour of Camp Atterbury, repelled off of a 45 feet repel tower, fired an M4 carbine assault rifle, ate lunch with Soldiers in the dining facility, participated in vehicle roll-over training among other training mobilized Soldiers would receive here. Gerald Gaspar, coordinator of faculty recruitment for Indiana Wesleyan University, said his father was a World War II veteran and is a Purple Heart recipient, so being able to participate in the activities has increased his appreciation for military members.

"My appreciation grew so much by being here because this is personal for me," said Gaspar, "I can see to some extent of what my father had to go through during his training." Doug Gibbens, executive director for Indiana ESGR said, the ESGR's mission is to generate good relationships between members of the Guard and Reserve and their civilian employers during both peace time and war.

Roger Bingham, vice chancellor for student affairs for Ivy Technical Community College Columbus Indiana displays his marksmanship with a M4 carbine assault rifle during Military Activity Day hosted by Indiana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve a Department of Defense agency at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center. Military Activity Day was designed to give educators insight into the training environment of college students who are in Guard or Reserve. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Will Hill)

What started out for just employers has evolved to include college educators due to concerns Guard and Reserve college students were having about their mobilization while attending college, said Gibbens. Gibbens said, "So we started reaching out to colleges and universities to develop common practices that will be used by educators for dealing with these issues that their students who are members of the Guard and Reserve might have."

About 16 colleges and universities representatives across Indiana participate in the military activity day. Among the representatives, Roger Bingham, vice chancellor for student affairs for Ivy Technical Community College Columbus Indiana said, he visited Camp Atterbury to get a sense of what military members are experiencing. "I think this is a valuable opportunity to get a small snippet of military life," said Bingham.

"As we experience what other people experience it gives us a better appreciation for what they are doing, certainly for how our military members are serving." "I hope, personally, I will walk away from this with a better understanding, a deeper appreciation and commitment to serve the folks who are serving in our military," he said.