Oklahoma high school educator Rick Donnelly practices driving a simulated HMMWV Egress down a road lined with IEDs.
Ed Tour Takes Dozens of Educators from Three Cities to the Army Space and Missile Command.
Story Fredia J. Cain, USAREC, 5th Brigade ESS
Photos by Connie Dickey, USAREC, 5th Brigade
August 6, 2014
Fifth brigade leadership brought educators from the Houston, Oklahoma and San Antonio battalion footprints to Fort Carson and Army Space and Missile Command (USASMDC) in Colorado in July to educate them about Army career opportunities and benefits. The tour highlighted advanced technical military occupational
specialties.
“We invited educators, administrators, guidance counselors, and teachers,” said San Antonio Battalion Commander Lt. Col Britton T. Hopper. “They were engaged on a day-to-day basis with the young men and women who meet our criteria for service in the Army. Many of the educators had no military experience and we exposed them to Army service for several days.”
The tour kicked-off with an appreciation dinner. The keynote speaker was Dr. Daniel Hannan, a senior technical manager for Army Space and Missile Command, Satellite Communications Directorate of G6 Communications and Electronic Organization. He welcomed the educators to Colorado Springs and the operational headquarters of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (SMDC/ARSTRAT).
Hannan said “the Army has been in space and missile defense for 55 years beginning with Explorer One in 1962, which conducted the first interception of an intercontinental missile. Eventually, the warfare domains expanded to sea, air, and space, and most recently, expanded into cyberspace.
Hannan highlighted how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are applied in Army careers and technologies related to space and missile defense.
“You as educators can advise young people on their future” Hannan told the crowd.
The United States is expected to have 2.4 million job openings in the STEM field by 2018. Jobs related to the STEM program are the second-fastest growing job sector in the country next to those in the healthcare industry. SMDC/ARSTRAT is one of the Army organizations that have internships or co-op programs for students focused on STEM.
On day 2, educators toured the 1st Army Space and Missile Brigade (Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab Brief (SMDBL), for a capabilities demonstration. Educators got to see some of the space based devices that America’s military, civilian agencies and international partners use in order to:
- Communicate via voice, text and images
- Keep track of each other
- Accomplish their missions
- Do rapid protyping
- Develop 3D printing
- GVIS weather, Rock (WxRock), Weather balloons
The educators had a lot of questions and concerns such as: What resources are available to show students? How do educators take this information to apply and convey it to their students? Which math and science classes should counselors and teachers encourage their students to take in order to be competitive in STEM careers related to SMDBL?
They were told: Aerospace, political science, orbital mechanics, computer skills, computer security, and understanding satellite architecture.
The most interesting part of the tour,” said Marva Casey Flentroy, lead counselor for MacArthur High School in Houston, Texas, was the Army Space and Missile Command.
“It was very interesting to hear and understand the career opportunities that are available to our youth through the Army. I will definitely utilize resources obtained from the tour to service my students. Overall, the tour was great. I would attend it again and I would most definitely recommend it to my colleagues. I plan to utilize resources such as March2Succes and ASVAB-CEP programs to better serve my students.”
The tour concluded with a full day at Fort Carson, Colo. The educators toured the Training Support Center (TSC) with a golden opportunity to utilize various simulators such as: IED lane/detection and dangers of IEDs, HMMWV Egress Assistance Trainer Rollover, convoy skills and indoor rifle range trainers. They also observed the EST2000 laser-based unit/institutional, indoor, multipurpose arms trainer for 11 individual and crew served weapons.
Educators got an opportunity to dine with Soldiers at the Stack (Dining Facility) DFAC. Tom Houser, a school counselor and teacher, from Northeast ISD, San Antonio, Texas, shared lunchtime with six Soldiers, two of whom were female. He was surprised to hear that the females were construction engineers. They told Houser their interests in their jobs was spurred by enthusiasm and passion.
He said, “To see the delight in these females was inspiring because they seemed to have found their niche and passion in life.”
Lisa-Anne Berger, family and consumer science teacher at Grant High School, in Oklahoma City, Okla., said she would take her new found knowledge about the varied technologies in the Army back to students.
“I was impressed with how the Army takes care of its military family. I’m dedicated to assisting students in the best way I can. I would like to have more information on ASVAB-CEP and March2Success programs. I plan to follow-up with the education services specialist upon return for a more in-depth overview of these programs.”
The ah-ha moment for Starlite Williams, the career technology counselor at Wheatley High School, Houston, Texas, was the benefits of military service.
“I didn’t think about military because as an athlete, I was provided scholarship opportunities for college. I now realize that the Army is the pride of service; an opportunity that you have,” said Williams.
She coined a new phase to share with her students saying, “Love what you do as love never fails because love is success. You’re going to have a passion for something. What I heard is that there are a lot of opportunities for our kids in the Army,” said Williams.
“The entire tour was informative and interesting,” said Freda Wells, school counselor at Aldine Senior High School in Spring, Texas. “Touring Fort Carson and being able to talk to Soldiers and watch them in action, as well as, being able to interact with the equipment was most enlightening and interesting. I believe I will truly be able to give students a better understanding of the opportunities the Army has to offer and guide them to get there. I truly appreciate being able to take this tour. The information I have learned will prove invaluable as I return to campus. I truly feel I will be better equipped to assist students in making decisions for their future
endeavors in military service. Thank you!”
San Antonio Education Service Specialist Barry Kowald, interacted with 13 educators from the San Antonio area. Warren High School Spanish teacher and Army Reservist Marcus Tinajero understands the value of the leadership skills that Soldiers acquire by serving in the Reserve.”
Overall the tour was an amazing success and all educators were fired up to engage their students with the Army’s opportunities and benefits.
Story Fredia J. Cain, USAREC, 5th Brigade ESS
Photos by Connie Dickey, USAREC, 5th Brigade
August 6, 2014
Fifth brigade leadership brought educators from the Houston, Oklahoma and San Antonio battalion footprints to Fort Carson and Army Space and Missile Command (USASMDC) in Colorado in July to educate them about Army career opportunities and benefits. The tour highlighted advanced technical military occupational
specialties.
“We invited educators, administrators, guidance counselors, and teachers,” said San Antonio Battalion Commander Lt. Col Britton T. Hopper. “They were engaged on a day-to-day basis with the young men and women who meet our criteria for service in the Army. Many of the educators had no military experience and we exposed them to Army service for several days.”
The tour kicked-off with an appreciation dinner. The keynote speaker was Dr. Daniel Hannan, a senior technical manager for Army Space and Missile Command, Satellite Communications Directorate of G6 Communications and Electronic Organization. He welcomed the educators to Colorado Springs and the operational headquarters of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (SMDC/ARSTRAT).
Hannan said “the Army has been in space and missile defense for 55 years beginning with Explorer One in 1962, which conducted the first interception of an intercontinental missile. Eventually, the warfare domains expanded to sea, air, and space, and most recently, expanded into cyberspace.
Hannan highlighted how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are applied in Army careers and technologies related to space and missile defense.
“You as educators can advise young people on their future” Hannan told the crowd.
The United States is expected to have 2.4 million job openings in the STEM field by 2018. Jobs related to the STEM program are the second-fastest growing job sector in the country next to those in the healthcare industry. SMDC/ARSTRAT is one of the Army organizations that have internships or co-op programs for students focused on STEM.
On day 2, educators toured the 1st Army Space and Missile Brigade (Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab Brief (SMDBL), for a capabilities demonstration. Educators got to see some of the space based devices that America’s military, civilian agencies and international partners use in order to:
- Communicate via voice, text and images
- Keep track of each other
- Accomplish their missions
- Do rapid protyping
- Develop 3D printing
- GVIS weather, Rock (WxRock), Weather balloons
The educators had a lot of questions and concerns such as: What resources are available to show students? How do educators take this information to apply and convey it to their students? Which math and science classes should counselors and teachers encourage their students to take in order to be competitive in STEM careers related to SMDBL?
They were told: Aerospace, political science, orbital mechanics, computer skills, computer security, and understanding satellite architecture.
The most interesting part of the tour,” said Marva Casey Flentroy, lead counselor for MacArthur High School in Houston, Texas, was the Army Space and Missile Command.
“It was very interesting to hear and understand the career opportunities that are available to our youth through the Army. I will definitely utilize resources obtained from the tour to service my students. Overall, the tour was great. I would attend it again and I would most definitely recommend it to my colleagues. I plan to utilize resources such as March2Succes and ASVAB-CEP programs to better serve my students.”
The tour concluded with a full day at Fort Carson, Colo. The educators toured the Training Support Center (TSC) with a golden opportunity to utilize various simulators such as: IED lane/detection and dangers of IEDs, HMMWV Egress Assistance Trainer Rollover, convoy skills and indoor rifle range trainers. They also observed the EST2000 laser-based unit/institutional, indoor, multipurpose arms trainer for 11 individual and crew served weapons.
Educators got an opportunity to dine with Soldiers at the Stack (Dining Facility) DFAC. Tom Houser, a school counselor and teacher, from Northeast ISD, San Antonio, Texas, shared lunchtime with six Soldiers, two of whom were female. He was surprised to hear that the females were construction engineers. They told Houser their interests in their jobs was spurred by enthusiasm and passion.
He said, “To see the delight in these females was inspiring because they seemed to have found their niche and passion in life.”
Lisa-Anne Berger, family and consumer science teacher at Grant High School, in Oklahoma City, Okla., said she would take her new found knowledge about the varied technologies in the Army back to students.
“I was impressed with how the Army takes care of its military family. I’m dedicated to assisting students in the best way I can. I would like to have more information on ASVAB-CEP and March2Success programs. I plan to follow-up with the education services specialist upon return for a more in-depth overview of these programs.”
The ah-ha moment for Starlite Williams, the career technology counselor at Wheatley High School, Houston, Texas, was the benefits of military service.
“I didn’t think about military because as an athlete, I was provided scholarship opportunities for college. I now realize that the Army is the pride of service; an opportunity that you have,” said Williams.
She coined a new phase to share with her students saying, “Love what you do as love never fails because love is success. You’re going to have a passion for something. What I heard is that there are a lot of opportunities for our kids in the Army,” said Williams.
“The entire tour was informative and interesting,” said Freda Wells, school counselor at Aldine Senior High School in Spring, Texas. “Touring Fort Carson and being able to talk to Soldiers and watch them in action, as well as, being able to interact with the equipment was most enlightening and interesting. I believe I will truly be able to give students a better understanding of the opportunities the Army has to offer and guide them to get there. I truly appreciate being able to take this tour. The information I have learned will prove invaluable as I return to campus. I truly feel I will be better equipped to assist students in making decisions for their future
endeavors in military service. Thank you!”
San Antonio Education Service Specialist Barry Kowald, interacted with 13 educators from the San Antonio area. Warren High School Spanish teacher and Army Reservist Marcus Tinajero understands the value of the leadership skills that Soldiers acquire by serving in the Reserve.”
Overall the tour was an amazing success and all educators were fired up to engage their students with the Army’s opportunities and benefits.