USA Patriotism! ... "Showcasing Pride of America"USA Store! ... American / Patriotic themed gift products at USA Patriotism!

Home - Articles - Heroes - Photos - Poems - Stories - Students - Music - Videos
Quotes - Speeches - References - Great Patriots - Honor Halls - Stars for Troops
USA's Birth - New Content
- About - Contact - Press
- CureNow - Donate
- Privacy

Click To Google Search USA Patriotism!
USA Patriotism! YouTube ChannelJoin / Like the USA Patriotism! Facebook pagePinterestLinkedInUSA Patriotism! Instagram ChannelUSA Patriotism! On TwitterUSA Patriotism! at Flickr

Patriotic Article
Military

Collectibles, apparel, and other gifts ... for Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and veterans! Checks with USA, military, and other patriotic designs Free Gifts from The Bradford Exchange Online

Volunteer Soldiers Mentor Texas School Students
by Michael Novogradac, U.S. Army Operational Test Command
October 20,  2016

Satute of Liberty / Flag Mugs and Steins

Tough Tex American Flags

SunSetter 20' Telescoping Flagpole with Free American Flag

USA, military, and other patriotic themed pullover and button down Polo shirts

Personalized Patriotic Embroidered Shirts

USA Flag and other American Theme Caps and Hats

American Pride: Poems Honoring America and Her Patriots! by David G. Bancroft

Two Soldiers who volunteer for III Corps and Fort Hood's Adopt-A-School program, visited the Middle School here Friday.

Master Sgt. Earnest L. Vance, Operational Test Command's Test Technology Directorate NCOIC, and Sgt. Jacob D. Wilson, Command Group NCOIC, stepped foot into Monica L. Mitchell's 8th-grade Earth Science class, just in time to see student Blayne Smith do a show-and-tell of his ball python, Killer.

September 9, 2016 - Florence Middle School 8th-grade Earth Science Student Blayne Smith does a show-and-tell of his ball python, Killer, as Sgt. Jacob D. Wilson (left), U.S. Army OTC's Command Group NCOIC, and Master Sgt. Earnest L. Vance, U.S. Army OTC's Test Technology Directorate NCOIC, listen to the boy's presentation. Monica L. Mitchell, 8th-grade Earth Science teacher, observes at right during an OTC Adopt-A-School visit. (Photo by Michael Novogradac, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)
September 9, 2016 - Florence Middle School 8th-grade Earth Science Student Blayne Smith does a show-and-tell of his ball python, Killer, as Sgt. Jacob D. Wilson (left), U.S. Army OTC's Command Group NCOIC, and Master Sgt. Earnest L. Vance, U.S. Army OTC's Test Technology Directorate NCOIC, listen to the boy's presentation. Monica L. Mitchell, 8th-grade Earth Science teacher, observes at right during an OTC Adopt-A-School visit. (Photo by Michael Novogradac, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)

 A second-year teacher after changing careers, Mitchell appreciates the presence of the Soldier mentors in her classroom.

"I struggled a little bit last year as a first-time teacher, and they came into one of my more difficult classes," she said. "They instill a level of discipline that raises expectations. Having these guys out here, it just boosts the kids' self-esteem and boosts their expectations of what they can be in the world."

Another teacher who concentrates on Math for grades 6 through 8, said the Adopt-A-School program with OTC works out just right.

"I had a student," explained Carol Nolan, "who didn't have very good handwriting, and I was told, 'You won't ever be able to read his handwriting.'

"Officer Vance didn't take that," she continued. "He was like -- 'No Sir! You can write this more neatly.'

According to Nolan -- sure enough -- Vance's mentoring and encouragement vastly improved the pupil's handwriting.

"They're able to see a need and spot it," Nolan said of the Soldier mentors. "They don't have any fear to just jump in and start helping. And, any time you can make a connection with a student on a subject or share a mutual experience, they will trust you. The students share a mutual respect with the Soldiers."

Like any Volunteer, neither Vance nor Wilson are present at Florence Middle School for the notoriety.

"I see these kids struggling, and a lot of these kids, we can relate to," said Wilson. "We've been there -- going through school and taking it for granted. I came from a small town and was on the football team, so teachers just naturally slid me by, and nobody ever told me, 'Hey, school matters. You need to focus on this.'"

Wilson said not knowing how to focus hurt him in the long run.

"When I got to the college level, I was behind. I was struggling," he said. "Then I started partying. Then it got to the point where I had nothing but withdrawals and incompletes on my transcript, so that's when I left. And because I was on an ROTC scholarship, it was either pay back the money the Army spent on me, or enlist."

Wilson also involves himself as a Volunteer Fireman, and with the Big Brother Program.

"So, that's how I got in the Army," Wilson said. "I wasn't pushed at an early age. There's nothing wrong with my life today, but if I would have focused and buckled down, who knows what my life would be today?"

September 9, 2016 - U.S. Army Master Sgt. Earnest L. Vance (left), OTC's Test Technology Directorate NCOIC, and U.S. Army Sgt. Jacob D. Wilson, Command Group NCOIC, stand before OTC's Adopt-A-School sign at Florence Middle School, Florence, Texas. (Photo by Michael Novogradac, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)
September 9, 2016 - U.S. Army Master Sgt. Earnest L. Vance (left), OTC's Test Technology Directorate NCOIC, and U.S. Army Sgt. Jacob D. Wilson, Command Group NCOIC, stand before OTC's Adopt-A-School sign at Florence Middle School, Florence, Texas. (Photo by Michael Novogradac, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)

Vance said just showing up every two weeks is a routine that's necessary for him, and the kids.

"We engage them every two weeks, and we let them know we're coming back," he said. "And, we try to hold them accountable for certain tasks."

Holding the students accountable can be as simple as looking through their backpack for homework they're missing; then showing them how to become and remain organized.

"To show up every two weeks also keeps us accountable," said Wilson. "If we didn't see results, we probably wouldn't do it. They're getting something out of it and we're getting something out of it."

By Michael Novogradac, U.S. Army Operational Test Command
Provided through DVIDS
Copyright 2016

Comment on this article

USA Gifts Store! ... over 1,000 American / Patriotic themed products at USA Patriotism! USA / Americana theme ... polo shirts, t-shirts, shorts, hats, caps, swimwear, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, jackets, under garments, and other apparel items American Pride: Poems Honoring America and Her Patriots! by David G. Bancroft