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PictureDuring a trip to the Virtual Training Facility at Fort Stewart, Ga., in July, Spec. Brian Nelson explains the basics of marksmanship to Haley Hill, Branch Director of the Tybee YMCA.
Jacksonville Battalion Conducts Ed Tour Conducted at Fort Stewart

By Dina McKain, Fort Stewart Public Affairs
August 20, 2014

Jacksonville Battalion brought 20 area educators to Fort Stewart, Ga.,  for a tour of the facilities and a briefing on what potential recruits might expect when assigned to an Army installation.

The tour was hosted by  Capt. Jamal White of the 42nd Fires Brigade.  Jacksonville Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Sharlene Pigg, and several recruiters accompanied the educators. The purpose of the tour was to help educate edcuators about  the daily lives of Soldiers. 

"These are people that work with youth and educators at the high school and college level," Pigg said. "This helps us learn what [educators] do, so we can better serve potential Soldiers."

The tour included a command brief that gave an overview of Fort Stewart, Hunter Army Airfield and the 3rd Infantry Division. Bill Lukens, poat Army Community Service director explained the major programs of ACS, which  include Financial Readiness, the Exceptional Family Member Program, the Family Advocacy Program, Mobilization and Deployment, and Survivor Outreach Services.

Lukens said ACS is a social service that helps Soldiers and their families become resilient, "so Soldiers can focus on the task at hand, whether they are training or are deployed, knowing that their Family is being taken care of at home."

The tour included stops at the state of the art Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith Education Center, the 4th Brigade Fitness Center and the Virtual Training Facility.

Sharonda Boggs and Shardai Hamilton work for Brunswick, Ga., Job Corps as career transition specialists. They help young people make decisions on choosing a career path. They work closely with local recruiters from all military branches. The trip to Fort Stewart was the first time Boggs had been on a military installation.

"We got to see firsthand what military life is like and what the military does," she said.

George Lantzounis is the director of career services at Armstrong State University. The tour gave him a perspective he didn't expect.

"This helped me realize the great facilities, programs and dedicated staff the military offers," he said. "It helps to educate myself, so I can help others decide their career path."

Jacksonville Battalion does ed tours twice a year with educators and Future Soldiers.