Tennessee National Guard hosts career day
TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – More than 90 local high school students from the Coffee County area participated in a career day at the Tennessee Army National Guard Armory in Tullahoma on Thursday, April 6.
Two groups of students, from Coffee County Central and Tullahoma High Schools, who volunteered to attend the event, spent the day learning about what the Tennessee National Guard does for the community and opportunities available to them following high school.
“I have been looking forward to attending this career day for some time,” said one of the students. “I have been wanting to learn about the military equipment and get an up-close experience with the Guard.”
Throughout the day, students and school faculty met and talked with current guardsmen, toured the facilities, and were rotated through multiple stations to learn about the equipment and the many missions that the National Guard can do.
The first station the students visited highlighted military vehicles which included a HIMARS, or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, and a M-ATV or Mine-resistant, ambush protected, All-Terrain Vehicle. The HIMARS is a wheeled system designed for launching rockets offensively and defensively. The M-ATV is a well armored, multi-purpose vehicle utilized in different ways depending on the needs of the troops and mission. Students toured each vehicle and received an in-depth explanation of the function of each one.
Next, the students were bused to the aircraft drop-zone training area where they were introduced to an M-109 Paladin, which is a self-propelled Howitzer, an M-60 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge, and an M1070 tank-transporting vehicle. Each student was given tours of the vehicles and then watched a demonstration by National Guardsmen as they launched the M-60 bridge layer.
At the final station, the students toured the Tennessee National Guard maintenance facility, where they saw where most of the weapons, vehicles, and equipment is maintained and repaired. Here, they were also able to climb abord an M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, an armored backhoe, and a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck or HEMTT wrecker.
“To be able to talk to these high school students and their faculty about the career opportunities available in the Army Guard, and what benefits the Guard brings to their community, is a privilege,” said Staff Sgt. Erik Brown, the event organizer. “We hope that each of these students left today knowing a little more about what we do and how we support our communities, state, and nation.”
Sgt. Gage Boggess with Chattanooga’s 1-181st Field Artillery Regiment briefs Coffee County Central and Tullahoma High School students on the M-ATV, or Mine-resistant ambush protected All-Terrain Vehicle, during a career day at the Tullahoma National Guard Armory on April 6. (photo by Lt. Col. Marty Malone)
Students from Coffee County Central and Tullahoma High Schools watch a demonstration of the M-60 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge being deployed during a career day at the Tullahoma National Guard Armory on April 6. (photo by Lt. Col. Marty Malone)
Students from Coffee County Central and Tullahoma High Schools tour a HIMARS, or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, and an M-ATV, or Mine-resistant ambush protected All-Terrain Vehicle, during a career day at the Tullahoma National Guard Armory on April 6. (photo by Lt. Col. Marty Malone)