FORT CARSON, CO. – Nearly 30 state- and district-level education executives traveled with U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) to visit Fort Carson and learn more about the opportunities and experiences that Soldiers are afforded both inside and outside of the workplace as part of the USAREC National Educator Tour from June 5-8, 2023. With trigger time on the range, capabilities briefs and demonstrations, and hours of conversations with Soldiers from across the Ivy Division and from various Mountain Post Mission Partners, education policymakers from around the country experienced firsthand the life of a Soldier.

The first full day of the tour kicked off with demonstrations from the U.S. Army Parachute Team (better known as the Golden Knights), from the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard, and from the 4th Inf. Div. Band. Tour participants then had the opportunity to dine with Soldiers at the James R. Wolf Ivy Warrior Restaurant and hear the stories of how several Soldiers became Culinary Specialists with a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 92G. After lunch they braved wind and rain to get hands-on with equipment such as an Abrams Tank, Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle, and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), bomb suit from 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), and watch skills demonstrations from military working dogs assigned to the 759th Military Police Battalion before shooting pistols and rifles with Soldiers from the 10th Special Forces Group.

“I think that people have this myopic view of what an Army Soldier does and coming to this [makes] your eyes open wide. You learn so much about the wide variety of opportunities that are available regardless of your background. There’s a way that people can get in – whether they’re a high school student, they’re a college student, [or] they’re a professional, there’s a way that they can find themselves an opportunity for further enhancement within the Army as well as education opportunities” noted Scott Sweeney, Chair of the Georgia State Board of Education.

While educational benefits were a familiar topic for most of the educators, many knew far less about the other benefits available to Soldiers such as health insurance for them and their families, community service and childcare programs available for children and families, and the many different financial benefits that the Army offers to Soldiers. Lesser-known opportunities to serve in uniform such as the Army’s 1st Space Brigade, careers in Army medicine, competing with the World Class Athlete Program and Army Marksmanship Unit, and careers for professional musicians in uniform were highlighted during the second and third full days of the tour.

“Each activity that we participated in demonstrated another unique aspect of the military career. The [knowledge] that I left with is that [the Army is] setting up students to have career pathways… they basically are joining an organization that has all kind of opportunities for them to pursue,” observed Frank Edelblut, Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education.

The tour’s main planner was Sgt. First Class Ryan Javier, the USAREC 5th Recruiting Brigade’s liaison to the 4th Inf. Div. USAREC Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, and Command Sgt. Maj. Shade Munday presented him with the Recruiter Ring for his many years of exemplary service as a recruiter ahead of his upcoming retirement.

“One thing that I want to do is thank Sgt. First Class Javier and the 4th Inf. Div. and all the other organizations that put this event on. Without their support, none of this would even be possible,” remarked Munday during the tour’s formal dinner on June 7.

Fort Carson’s unique amount and variety of tenant units enabled USAREC to immerse education policymakers in over fifteen demonstrations and experiences throughout the three-day tour. Few other installations in the Army have so many different experiences available in one place. With an increased understanding of life in the Army, participants returned home around the country able to better inform others about how the Army can help anyone pursue their passion and purpose.

“If you go into the Army they have so many opportunities and so many different challenges that can be matched to your talents and it’s up to you. It’s your choice what you want to use. But you have to take that step – you have to make that sacrifice, and then [the Army] takes care of you when you go,” concluded Tabari Wallace, Special Advisor to the North Carolina State Superintendent for Principal Engagement. “If I wasn’t a football player and I had to do it all again, I would not have gone straight to college. I would’ve gone to the Army.”

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