Story and photos by Megan Elliott
Area high schools were visited by a vehicle with some very interesting hands-on exhibits, the U.S. Soldier Adventure Semi. Evans High School, Harlem High School and Fox Creek High School students were given the opportunity to see, hear and touch some of the gear Soldiers use in the field, including body armor, computer simulated battlefield scenes and decommissioned weapons.
Area high schools were visited by a vehicle with some very interesting hands-on exhibits, the U.S. Soldier Adventure Semi. Evans High School, Harlem High School and Fox Creek High School students were given the opportunity to see, hear and touch some of the gear Soldiers use in the field, including body armor, computer simulated battlefield scenes and decommissioned weapons.
The latest technology in the Army's night vision sensors and lasers were one of the displays in the Adventure Semi, as well as a Humvee simulator that allows visitors to interact with the battle technology, referred to as the CROWS simulator, in a similar format to a driving video game. "The simulator things and the statues dressed up in Army gear were cool," said Fox Creek High School freshman Will Fagan.
Fully-outfitted mannequins were on display, showcasing the gear a soldier wears to the battlefield on a daily basis for land and air missions. Also available for the students to try on were Army-issue helmets and body armor, all designed to allow the visitor a chance to feel the protection first-hand.
Two popular interactive exhibits were the Laser Shot and the XM-25. The Laser Shot is a timed shooting marksmanship exhibit which allowed the students to try their hand at using a decommissioned weapon with a laser sighting system. The XM-25, also in a video-game format, allowed the students to see the battlefield from a soldier's perspective, and was very popular.
"It was hands-on experience that allowed us to learn more," about the armed forces said Fox Creek sophomore Madison Stoll. Even though she didn't like the experience, Christina Thomas, a junior at Fox Creek, thought it was "very informative and provided a lot of details."
For students considering a career in the Army after graduation is an Army Career Navigator System which allowed them to explore the options and, according to Fox Creek senior Josh Kastan, gave "perspectives on the different paths one could take," once enlisted.
The U.S. Soldier Adventure Semi tours the continental United States to bring the soldier experience to the public, one of a fleet of 11 vehicles. Each vehicle has a different theme with different interactive displays. For more information about the event, please contact Leslie Ann Sully at 1-888-265-7925 or e-mail her at l.sully@usarec.army.mil.
More photos are available on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/columbiarctgbn/sets/72157629102071043/
More photos are available on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/columbiarctgbn/sets/72157629102071043/
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