On Wednesday, Jan. 14th, students in the 10th-12th grades were visited by members of the V.I. Army National Guard.
Major Marcus Sydney, Commander of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, along with Sgts. Nanton and Augustin, informed the students about the many educational, career and lifetime benefits of serving in the National Guard. Students were surprised to learn of all of the opportunities available through the Guard, such as college tuition and career training in areas such as Engineering, Physical Trainer, IT, medical and legal practice pathways and more. Additionally, as the Guard is a part-time commitment, young adults can simultaneously pursue their education or career while serving, earning full benefits along the way.
The Guard also impressed students with two of their many sophisticated military vehicles and equipment. One vehicle was used in finding and managing hazardous materials on-site, including using hand-held detecting devices to search for invisible gases; several students tried on the Hazmat suit and air tank. The second vehicle was a state-of-the-art traveling lab, used to identify and eliminate or remove toxic or dangerous substances from crime scenes or when suspicious items are located.
The visit was educational and an introduction to the many opportunities available to young people in the Virgin Islands.
