Instead of firing at the range or running drills, some soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, spent March 9 with children at Kessler Elementary on Fort Stewart.
The soldiers helped present certificates at an awards ceremony, marched in a parade celebrating the National Education Association’s Read Across America program and assisted children with art projects in classrooms.
The soldiers volunteered at the school as part of their battalion’s monthly visit with its partner school.
“The kids are … our future generation, and it feels really good to come out and set an example as soldiers,” said Spc. Jake L. Taylor, an infantryman with Company D, 3rd Bn., 15th Inf. Regt.
“My favorite part is getting to read to the kids because you can tell just by the way they act that they really look up to us and they really like it when we read to them,” the Tyler, Texas, native added.
In one classroom, soldiers assisted the students with drawing themselves as members of the profession in which they’d eventually like to work.
Spc. John E. Randall, an infantryman with Company D, 3rd Bn., 15th Inf. Regt., accepted a challenge from the children to prove he could draw, too.
“It’s pretty fun hanging out with all the kids,” the Umatilla, Fla., native said. “A lot of them are awesome — (there are) a lot of young, great minds.”