Roddy urged to compete for 2017 band slot by 2016 band member

James Roddy addresses the students at Easley High School after his selection for 2017 Army Bowl Band.

James Roddy of Easley High School in Easley, S.C., was selected on Oct. 1 as a 2017 U.S. Army All-American. He is joining an elite group of marching band members who will perform during halftime at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl presented by American Family Insurance at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Roddy said that Samuel Charles, who was a 2016 Army All-American mellophone player from South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, S.C., encouraged him to apply for the band. They met at a band clinic at Winthrop University when Roddy was still undecided about the audition. “It is pretty cool,” he said about being selected. “Now I want to play well and march well.” 

 

 South Pointe High School Band members with Samuel Charles after his selection for 2016 Army Bowl Band.

The U.S. Army All-American Marching Band recognizes the top 125 high school senior marching musicians and color guard members from across the country, showcasing their talents during the largest celebration of high school football in America, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, televised live on NBC at 12:00 Noon CST on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. Last year, 1,300 high school students competed for these prestigious spots.

Give Thanks To our Military Service Members and Their Families

S.C. Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army Bill Dukes (center-wearing a blue blazer) surrounded by S.C. educators.

By Bill Dukes
S.C. Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army
As the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for South Carolina, I would like to extend my gratitude during this holiday season to all the members of the military who serve our state and nation to secure the protections of liberty for each of us.
As we gather to celebrate the holidays and enjoy the warmth of family and friends, I hope we can all pause to consider what is perhaps our greatest Christmas gift - the gift of freedom. Keep close in our thoughts and prayers the men and women who have given us that gift and continue to defend and
protect it every day.
Please take a moment to remember our service members who are deployed overseas this holiday season. They are far from their families and the comforts of home. For many, these are lonely and difficult days. What goes on in the Middle East is of keen interest to South Carolina. There are significant numbers of military personnel from Charleston Air Force Base, Marine Air Station Beaufort, Shaw Air Force Base and the South Carolina National Guard, that are deployed overseas
during this holiday season.
For every service member that is deployed that means there are family members at home that will be without a special loved one during the holiday season. We pray that all our service members will return home soon and be reunited with their loved ones. Our deployed service members voluntarily stand up and brave the danger and hardships to defend the freedoms we enjoy.
These are young men and women who have chosen service over self. They inspire us all by their willingness to put our safety, our security and our well being first. It is a very humbling experience to know that there are others who will put their lives on the line for people they don’t even know. They portray what we Americans value most - Freedom.
Let’s all give thanks this season and throughout the coming year for the members of our military. Not only do they risk their lives daily but they have sacrificed precious time away from their families so we can enjoy our freedoms.
Let us give thanks as well this season, and throughout the coming year, to the families of the members of our military. It is they who most directly share the burdens of the long struggles to protect our American way of life. As you remember these military families, pray for all the spouses who have been doing the parenting of two while one stands guard for all of us, and remember the
children who wait anxiously for mother or father’s return home.
Let’s be proud, grateful and thankful for all our service members. Each one of them has volunteered to protect our nation. Let us all admire their dedication to duty, their selflessness, and their courage – as well as the ultimate sacrifice some have made for us.
Pray that our service members have comfort and joy and “Peace on Earth” during this holiday season.

Local Army Center Leader named Distinguished Honor Graduate

By Vernetta Garcia

Sgt. 1st Class James Balog as the Distinguished Honor Graduate and Leadership Award recipient on Oct. 21, 2016

Sgt. 1^st Class James Balog, Center Leader for Beaufort Army Recruiting Center, escaped the path hurricane Matthew when it hit the coast of South Carolina by attending the Senior Leaders Course at Ft. Jackson, S.C. 

On Oct. 21, 2016, he graduated the course as the Distinguished Honor Graduate and Leadership Award recipient. There was a last minute cancellation for the course a slot opened for Balog.  “Balog’s achievements are all the more impressive because he only had 48 hours to prepare before attending the course,” said his commander, the Charleston Company Commander Cpt. Stephen Fancey.

Balog started his recruiting career in at the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Cleveland in  November 2011. He quickly moved up the ranks and became the Center Leader of Beaufort Center in the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Columbia in July 2015. Balog said the three week course “was a good refresher to hone leadership skills.” He also said the course reinforced beliefs that he always tells his recruiters. "Don’t get overwhelmed, take things one day at a time, learn the (Recruiting) process, and believe in the team,” he said.

“Recruiting has its challenges, but I enjoy interacting with the community and providing a future for our students,” said Balog.

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.”