Army Helicopters Help Teach STEM to Fort Mill High School Students

    Story and photos by Vernetta Garcia

Columbia Company Commander Cpt. Lequire explains how the Army helicopter is going to land to the students.

Columbia Company Recruiters teamed up with Celebrate Freedom Foundation (CFF) on Tuesday, Sept. 20 to bring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) assets to more than 2,000 students at Fort Mill High School, Fort Mill, SC. It included a surprise fly-in of AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter, Maggie, which the student body didn’t know about until the morning of the event.

 

AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter named Maggie lands at Fort Mill High School to the surprise of the students.

CFF’s Project SOaR™ (Student/School Opportunities and Rewards) is an educational outreach program that supports STEM courses in high schools. The program informs students of the opportunities that are available to them, particularly in the aviation field with the interactive AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter, Annie. Former mechanic and SOaR volunteer Bob Day shared the many diverse careers associated with aviation. “There are so many different STEM careers associated with with aviation, not everyone wants to be a pilot," said Day.

“Our goal is to stimulate or reinforce student interest in STEM courses by bringing these assets to the school,” said Lt. Col. Robert Garbarino, Commander of the Columbia Army Recruiting Battalion. “Students and educators will see that the Army has a variety of technical jobs in aviation and those that support aviation.”

 

Fort Mill High School Students try on the Army aviation gear.

Students learned the value of college and other educational opportunities, such as technical schools and military. Students met pilots and instructors, who have succeeded in the aviation and aerospace industry. They also learned about the incomes that can be earned if they work in the aviation and aerospace industry.

Sgt. 1st Class Watson and others talk with the students about Army careers and aircraft information.

 “We are excited to partner with US Army recruiters and CFF to provide this opportunity for our students in career courses at FMHS.  The US Military is one of the most technologically advanced in the world.  Our students were able to see up close what a career in STEM looks like in a real world application. Our hope is this partnership will motivate many of our students to consider a future in STEM careers after high school,” said Fort Mill High Principal Dee Christopher.

 

Students get close to the other aircraft that was on display. Some students climbed into the cockpit later.

“It was a great day,” said Sgt. 1^st Class Dianne Watson, Rock Hill area Army Recruiter, “I enjoyed sharing my Army story and hope the students gained a better understanding of careers and STEM jobs in the military.”