While at the Northwest Missouri School Counselor Association district meeting, members of the Missouri Army National Guard had the opportunity to address counselors from throughout the region about the role the National Guard plays in their communities.
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During the opening session, Sgt. 1st Charles Wood shared how the National Guard has dual missions and is unique in that it serves both their state and country.
“We have two missions with the Missouri National Guard,” said Wood. “One is to support the governor of the State of Missouri. We also support the Constitution of the United States and the president of the United States who organizes us to ship overseas to fight for our country.”
In light of Missouri’s multiple state emergencies in 2011 alone, Wood focused on what the Missouri Guard has been doing to assist the citizens of the state. Illustrating how his fellow Guardsmen served during the past winter’s blizzard, the spring and summer flooding and the massive effort still taking place in Joplin after the tornado, Wood painted a picture of how citizen-sSoldiers serve at home.
Army National Guard recruiters frequently visit the schools represented at the meeting. Many of the counselors invite the National Guard into their schools and bring quality programs to the students which compliment the curriculum already in place.
“Counselors are responsible for the education of our children,” said Wood. “Meeting with them and having a great working relationship is very important. I want a Missouri Army National Guard recruiter to be the first person a counselor thinks of when they need a program or someone to speak to a class.”
In Trenton, high school counselors Kay Moore and Carrie Crouse have an excellent working relationship with Staff Sgt. Angela Scobee, the area’s recruiter.
“I love my National Guard people,” said Mrs. Moore.
Like many recruiters, Scobee presents workshops throughout the school year such as Career Direction, a no-cost guidance program that helps high school juniors and seniors become more focused on their future and consider their career options. Recruiters also provide a two-day situational awareness program that is designed to prepare students and protect them in the event they are ever attacked.
“The educational outreach, I do so hope they continue that,” said Mrs. Moore.
By providing these programs, and working with the school faculty and students, Mrs. Moore said her students definitely have a sincere respect for the National Guard.
“If they were not here, they would have this superhero, Game Boy idea of what the military is,” said Mrs. Moore. “It’s so surreal.”
“They get a very honest view of what the National Guard does,” said Mrs. Crouse.
As citizen-soldiers, the National Guard strives to have a positive influence on local communities and takes an active role in helping shape future leaders.