Wisconsin Army Guard supports Boy Scout Jamboree
|
Date: September 28, 2009
This past weekend's Boy Scouts Great Lakes Centennial Jamboree at the Experimental Aircraft
Association grounds in Oshkosh brought back fond memories for Capt. William Kesselring.
Kesselring, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 1157th Transportation
Company, first experienced scouting much later than most - as a West Point cadet. The military
academy hosted area Boy Scout troops each year at its training grounds, and cadets served as
sponsors.
"I'm still friends with some of the people I met then," he said.
Kesselring headed up the approximately 100 Wisconsin Guard Soldiers who supported the
Jamboree by manning static displays, operating an inflatable obstacle course and a small
compass course, and interacting with the Scouts.
"I volunteered to come here," said Staff Sgt. Mark Bolwerk of Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion,
121st Field Artillery. "This sounded like a lot of fun, and it's been a blast."
Bolwerk and others answered a myriad of questions from Scouts and their leaders, such as: "Can
I drive that?" "How much does that tire weigh?" "How fast can that vehicle go?" "Why does the
National Guard need combat vehicles?" "Are those real rockets?" and "When does the helicopter
get here?"
The Black Hawk helicopter from the West Bend-based 832nd Medical Company (Air
Ambulance) may have been the most anticipated National Guard display, but the others saw a
steady flow of visitors throughout the day. Scouts crawled in and around a Multiple Launch
Rocket System (MLRS), Heavy Equipment Transport (HET) truck and an M1088 tractor truck,
Humvees and a Humvee ambulance, a Joint Incident Site Communication Capability tent and the
inflatable obstacle course. The National Guard Bureau's Mobile Event team operated the
American Guardians combat simulator trailer for Scouts 16 years and older.
|
Click To View High-Resolution Photo
Matt Kissinger of Boy Scout Troop 205 in Clover honks the horn of a Heavy Equipment
Transport (HET) truck from the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 1158th Transportation
Company, based in Black River Falls, during the Great Lakes Centennial Jamboree held at the
EAA grounds in Oshkosh over the weekend.Wisconsin Army National Guard photo by Sgt.
1st Class Vaughn R. Larson
|
According to Jim Weiland, public relations director for the Great Lakes Council Centennial
Jamboree, more than 10,100 Scouts attended the Jamboree.
"It went really well," Weiland said. "I don't think we could have done it without [the Wisconsin
Army National Guard]. Not only did they provide a great service with water and tents, but
everybody was helpful and polite. They couldn't have been nicer to deal with."
The Wisconsin Army National Guard role at the Jamboree is in keeping with the long-standing
tradition of military support of the Boy Scouts of America.
Click To View High-Resolution Photo
Wisconsin Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Mark Bolwerk of the Plymouth-based Bravo
Battery, 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery explains the Multiple Launch Rocket System to Scout
leaders Ed Kikkert and Robert Hahn, both of Troop 736 in Beaver Dam, during the Great Lakes
Centennial Jamboree held at the EAA grounds in Oshkosh over the weekend. Wisconsin Army
National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn R. Larson
| |
Click To View High-Resolution Photo
Charlie Abrahamson, of Boy Scout Troop 39 in Moraine Park, Ill., practices radio
communications in an M1088 tractor truck with assistance from Sgt. Melissa Bergel of the
Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 1157th Transportation Company, based in Oshkosh, during the
Great Lakes Centennial Jamboree held at the EAA grounds in Oshkosh over the weekend. Also
pictured are Matt Arito and Isaac Husemann, of Troop 39. Wisconsin Army National Guard photo
by Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn R. Larson
|
Click To View High-Resolution Photo
Staff Sgt. Michael Barrera and Cadet Chris Meza of the Wisconsin Army National
Guard's 135th Medical Company, based in Waukesha, instruct Scouts on the proper way to lift a
TALON II litter during the Great Lakes Centennial Jamboree held at the EAA grounds in Oshkosh
over the weekend. Wisconsin Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn R. Larson
| |
Click To View High-Resolution Photo
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brent Gomez of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 832nd
Medical Company (Air Ambulance) explains the finer points of a Black Hawk helicopter to a young
Cub Scout during the Great Lakes Centennial Jamboree held at the EAA grounds in Oshkosh over
the weekend. Wisconsin Army National Guard photo
by Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn R. Larson
|
|
|
Printer Friendly
