Mauldin High School connects STEM training with Army helicopters

Russell David, Celebrate Freedom instructor, teaches Maudlin High School students about careers in Aeronautics and the Army and the importance of STEM classes for their future job choices. 

 The Celebrate Freedom Foundation (CFF) acquired five AH-1F Cobra helicopters when the Army took them out commission in 2000. The foundation has restored one aircraft to be used as a teaching display and it was at Maudlin High School on Oct. 25, 2013.  Columbia Recruiting Battalion has partnered with CFF to use the aircraft and lesson plans that connects STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) training and brings classroom teaching to life. This educates young people about jobs they can aspire to get after graduation and students also learn more about the Army.

Becky Breckenridge a teacher at Maudlin High School brought out her key boarding class to see the helicopter and hear the presentation. She said she was impressed with how they could relate it to technology jobs.

The helicopter allows students to interface technology with current classroom teachings. “I open the side of the aircraft and talk about the functions of the helicopter and jobs a person would fill to make it function,” said Jim Filiatreault, operations officer and one of the CFF instructors. “Teachers also ask the students time and distance and fuel problems to show how the helicopter can fly,” he added.

Army Future Soldier Kelton Jones talks with his recruiter Sgt. 1st Class David Rodriguez about some of his Army options.

 

CFF has seen increasingly positive results in the past few years since they have been able to bring the helicopter to new cities in South Carolina. “After a school visit, there is a transformation for the educator to see the recruiter as a role model and mentor for the student,” said Jack Lovelady, President of CFF.

 “It is a $6.6 million magnet and although it is an older model, the systems used are the same as aircraft today,” Lovelady said. He added that it is an asset the schools cannot afford and it doesn’t compete for classroom time, it supplements the classroom objectives. “It connects the classroom with real world jobs and Army MOSs. Every Army job can be related back to the helicopter,” Lovelady said.



Mauldin Navy JROTC students talk with Cpt. Michael Fritz and Sgt. 1st Class David Rodriguez about joining college ROTC and Army Reserves simultaneously.

The Army recruiters also had Cpt. Michael Fritz, Army ROTC instructor from Presbyterian College, on hand to explain the many ways to serve in the Army. Future Soldier Kelton Jones was also at the school to talk with friends and meet new students. He graduated from Mauldin High School in 2013 and he has joined the Army as a Human Resources Specialist. He is slated to attend basic training in this November. “I am excited to get started.”