‘Diligent’ Battalion visits Ogden Elementary School
First Lt. Kayla Johnson, platoon leader, along with another Soldier, both with rear detachment, 701st BSB, sit and speak with students of Ogden Elementary School as they eat Oct. 31. While the Soldiers were at the school, they told the students about their jobs in the Army and answered questions the students had. Photo by: Sgt. Scott Lamberson, 4TH IBCT.
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Story by: Sgt. Scott Lamberson
4TH IBCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OGDEN – Soldiers with the 701st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division met with students at the Ogden Elementary School Oct. 31.
While the Soldiers were there, they interacted and socialized with many students during the students' lunch. The Soldiers not only had the chance to mingle and speak with students as they ate, but they also had the chance to meet with the second- and fourth-grade students of the school in separate classroom areas.
"We have a good time. All the Soldiers enjoy it, and we can say that the kids really like it too— we're building a relationship with not only the community but the children and students of the community as well," said 1st LT. Kayla Johnson, a platoon leader, 701st BSB. "I think the students really just have a good time. They learn things about the military, other than what their parents do or what they learn on television or video games. They understand that we're all different and we all come from different places. They just really look forward to meeting us and talking to us. It's good for them to see another aspect of the military other than what's in the media."
After mingling and sitting with students in the cafeteria, the Soldiers met with the second-grade class in the art room. While in the classroom the students ate while the Soldiers introduced themselves and described their occupations to the students. After the round of introductions, the Soldiers sat at the different tables with the students allowing the students to interact and ask questions of the Soldiers.
"I think having the Soldiers visit the school is important for a lot of reasons. The first thing that I like to get out of it is that we have good role models coming in for our students. They show the students how to behave; they take their hats off when they enter the building, and they treat each other respectfully. Those are important things for children to learn and Soldiers do it well," said Jim Armendariz, principal, Ogden Elementary School.
After meeting with the second-grade class, the Soldiers moved into a classroom with fourth-graders. Once again the Soldiers introduced themselves. In this setting there was more of a classroom discussion feel. As the students sat at their desks eating lunch, they raised their hands and asked questions of the Soldiers. Not only did the Soldiers answer the questions of the students, the Soldiers also asked the students questions of their own creating more of a discussion among the two groups.
"They take away a lot of things. We have a lot of children whose parents are deployed, seeing Soldiers and good role models here is important for the kids whose parents are deployed. Besides that, they relate, they're able to ask questions and get answers, they can say things like, my Dad's a Soldier or my Mom's a Soldier, too, and that makes them feel better at school and if they feel better, they do better," Armendariz said.
The 701st BSB visits Ogden Elementary School on a regular basis. This is a relationship that will continue to develop through the course of the year as 701st has many more visits planned.