Maryland Superintendent Renee Foose jumps with Golden Knights
Maryland Superintendent Jumps with Golden Knights
Story and photo Nichole Woods, USAREC, Baltimore Battalion
June 10, 2014
Howard County, Md., Superintendent Renee Foose, Ph.D, fulfilled a lifelong dream when she tandem jumped out of a plane from 13,500 feet with the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team in front of the Atholton High School student body May 1.
Members of the community gathered along the fence to watch the jump take place and to enjoy the Army field band as they performed the national anthem, sung by JROTC Cadet Capt. Emily Smith.
“I am so excited that the Army is being so supportive, and I am honored to be a part of this experience by singing the national anthem with the Army band. We have a lot of recruiters who connect with the JROTC students here, but this is an opportunity for all students to see what the Army has to offer,” said Smith.
Atholton High School’s JROTC department was contacted about the opportunity from Accessions Support Brigade, which is a commanding unit that controls the various recruiting elements in attendance to include the Golden Knights, the Army Field Band and the Interactive-Aviation Trailer, which all collectively support the Army’s enlisted and officer recruiting missions.
“I’ve always been supportive of the Army, but even more so now after my experience with the parachute team and being able to actually spend time with Army professionals; I have a new perspective and have learned that there are a lot more career opportunities and ways to pay for college in the Army than I knew,” said Foose.
As a leader of one of the area’s largest school systems, Foose is on a mission to inspire students to dream big, and this was just the first step.
“I would hope that there are multiple messages students were able to gain from this, to think big, be bold, and be brave; but also to recognize that success takes adequate preparation, and that there’s a lot of training that goes into doing things like this. Reach for your highest dreams and be willing to put in the work to get there,” said Foose.
Foose said Howard County has a healthy relationship with Army Recruiting that can be used to promote Army opportunities.
“Students need to see a different side to the Army and learn about all the career opportunities available to them. I don’t think your average person sees that. They think of going to war. Take war out of the equation and show that the Army can be a starting point on one’s career path. The Army can be a mechanism to pay for school and other things.”
A lot of kids at Atholton are interested in medical or police work and they would like to see what those jobs look like in the army, said Foose. “Recruiters should be attending our college fairs and job fairs.”
Specialist Daniel Osorio, a member of the Golden Knights Parachute team, explained that his experience as a Soldier has provided educational benefits, training, travel, excitement and a chance to mature. Osorio feels like the Army has given him an edge on life.
“Students can connect with the some of the values of the Golden Knights - from the [parachute team’s] perseverance and hard work to the moral and physical standards that they uphold that we directly and indirectly reinforce for students all day,” said Atholton principal Jennifer Clements.
Story and photo Nichole Woods, USAREC, Baltimore Battalion
June 10, 2014
Howard County, Md., Superintendent Renee Foose, Ph.D, fulfilled a lifelong dream when she tandem jumped out of a plane from 13,500 feet with the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team in front of the Atholton High School student body May 1.
Members of the community gathered along the fence to watch the jump take place and to enjoy the Army field band as they performed the national anthem, sung by JROTC Cadet Capt. Emily Smith.
“I am so excited that the Army is being so supportive, and I am honored to be a part of this experience by singing the national anthem with the Army band. We have a lot of recruiters who connect with the JROTC students here, but this is an opportunity for all students to see what the Army has to offer,” said Smith.
Atholton High School’s JROTC department was contacted about the opportunity from Accessions Support Brigade, which is a commanding unit that controls the various recruiting elements in attendance to include the Golden Knights, the Army Field Band and the Interactive-Aviation Trailer, which all collectively support the Army’s enlisted and officer recruiting missions.
“I’ve always been supportive of the Army, but even more so now after my experience with the parachute team and being able to actually spend time with Army professionals; I have a new perspective and have learned that there are a lot more career opportunities and ways to pay for college in the Army than I knew,” said Foose.
As a leader of one of the area’s largest school systems, Foose is on a mission to inspire students to dream big, and this was just the first step.
“I would hope that there are multiple messages students were able to gain from this, to think big, be bold, and be brave; but also to recognize that success takes adequate preparation, and that there’s a lot of training that goes into doing things like this. Reach for your highest dreams and be willing to put in the work to get there,” said Foose.
Foose said Howard County has a healthy relationship with Army Recruiting that can be used to promote Army opportunities.
“Students need to see a different side to the Army and learn about all the career opportunities available to them. I don’t think your average person sees that. They think of going to war. Take war out of the equation and show that the Army can be a starting point on one’s career path. The Army can be a mechanism to pay for school and other things.”
A lot of kids at Atholton are interested in medical or police work and they would like to see what those jobs look like in the army, said Foose. “Recruiters should be attending our college fairs and job fairs.”
Specialist Daniel Osorio, a member of the Golden Knights Parachute team, explained that his experience as a Soldier has provided educational benefits, training, travel, excitement and a chance to mature. Osorio feels like the Army has given him an edge on life.
“Students can connect with the some of the values of the Golden Knights - from the [parachute team’s] perseverance and hard work to the moral and physical standards that they uphold that we directly and indirectly reinforce for students all day,” said Atholton principal Jennifer Clements.