FORT HOOD, Texas -- A
certificate of appreciation for reaching 760
volunteer hours with the post's Adopt-A-School
program was presented here Wednesday to the unit
that tests all Army equipment systems.
Fort Hood Garrison Commander Col. Henry C. Perry
handed the award for outstanding community service
to U.S. Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC)
Commander Brig. Gen. John C. Ulrich for the unit's
connection with Florence, Texas' Florence
Independent School District (FISD).
"It is more than checking a box for the
Adopt-A-School program," said Angelica Salinas, the
post's school liaison officer.
"It is building relationships and making a positive
impact on the students and the community."
She explained the Adopt-A-School program supports
nine Central Texas school districts containing 115
schools partnered with Fort Hood units.
"I would say they willingly exceeded the
expectation," Salinas said.
Salinas went on to explain how the road to 760 hours
was a building block process.
"Establishing a meet-and-greet with leadership from
the unit and the school at the beginning of the
school year; that helps set the tone and the
guarantee of a successful partnership," she said.
Throughout the school year, for example, USAOTC
Soldiers volunteered during Red Ribbon Week,
coordinating with the Fort Hood Army Substance Abuse
Program (ASAP) to teach middle school students how
alcohol and drugs can affect their bodies, along
with troubles they may find with the law.
They also conducted flag etiquette training with
fourth- and fifth-graders. FISD Elementary School
Principal Kay Bradford said she used two students to
handle flag duties, but after the training, she
decided to have four to better handle and honor the
flag.
During the 25th Annual "Make a Difference Day,"
USAOTC volunteer Soldiers combined with Copperas
Cove Independent School District JROTC students to
focus on improving Florence ISD's Elementary School
playground with light maintenance, including
painting, and general groundskeeping at the Middle
School and High School sports fields.
"OTC has always been a reliable support team," said
Salinas. "That says a lot about the USAOTC unit and
team as a whole, and I have observed it is a cohesive,
hardworking, and selfless group."
~~
About the U.S. Army Operational Test Command:
As the Army's only independent operational tester,
USAOTC tests and assesses Army, joint, and
multi-service warfighting systems in realistic
operational environments, using typical Soldiers to
determine whether the systems are effective,
suitable, and survivable. USAOTC is required by
public law to test major systems before they are
fielded to its ultimate customer -- the American
Soldier.