Photos by Nick Spinelli After demonstrations, Cedar Ridge Elementary School students had the chance to face off against each with pugil sticks. The fifth grade students from Cedar Ridge Elementary school were treated to a first-hand expo on Army training when they visited Fort Gordon May 12.

While on post, the 125 visiting students and teachers saw demonstrations on various Army field activities including hand-to-hand combat, rope crossing, base operations and radio communications.

The afternoon of activities were planned and implemented by members of the Regimental Noncommissioned Officer Academy. The RNCOA students led the field demonstrations and activities while the Advanced students walked the fifth graders through a tent doubling as the command center, showing them how NCO's manage the day-to-day operations of a forward operating base.

"We wanted to give them a little taste of what we do," explained 1st Sgt. William Evans, Regimental Noncommisioned Officer Academy. "A lot of students in the area have parents who are Soldiers. This kind of event shows them not only what their parents do, but that they are well trained and well prepared to do it."

The Cedar Ridge students also learned about the weapons and equipment Soldiers carry in the field. Watching wasn't the only thing the students and faculty got to do, though. They were also given the opportunity to participate. They climbed up the guard towers where weapons were explained to them. They had the opportunity to cross a small ditch (or "mock-chasm") on a single rope. They even saw a hand-to-hand combat demonstration and took turns competing against Soldiers and each other with pugil sticks.

"We wanted to make it interesting and fun. The idea was to come up with something fifth graders would want to do," said Staff Sgt. Dana Wiggins, a Regimental Noncommisioned Officer Academy instructor.

Wiggins said the original plan was to bring the students out to the obstacle course on post and let them run through it. Logistical and safety issues forced the Academy to alter their plans.

"When it was decided we couldn't do the obstacle course, the Academy came up with this idea instead," she said. "It actually worked out better because the students had the opportunity to learn about different aspects of Army training as well as interact with the Soldiers and the equipment."

Michelle Drake, a math teacher at Cedar Ridge Elementary School crosses a mockchasm on a rope. This isn't the first event the RNCOA has done in conjunction with Cedar Ridge. The Academy has a partnership with the school and has worked with the students both on post and on campus.

We've been partnered with the academy for a while now and a lot of great things have come out of it, both for the students and the school," Laura Russ, a Cedar Ridge Elementary School physical education teacher, said. "They do something twice a month with the students, activities ranging from exercises to landscaping. They've been really flexible with their schedules to help us and they've done a lot of great things."

Wiggins said working with Cedar Ridge helps to expand the Academy's services into the community.

Sgt. Rick Molina, RegimentalNoncommissioned Officer Academy hand-to-hand combat instructor learns a few lessons of his own, as taught by a Cedar Ridge Elementary School student. "We want our students to know that as Soldiers and NCO's we fight for our country, which also means serving our community."

Some of the activities the Academy performed include a "fun run" with Soldiers and students and a project to upgrade and maintain the grounds surrounding the school.

"For Soldiers, for anyone, it's just as important to be as invloved with your community as you are with your mission or your job," Evans said. "What better way to start doing that is there, than teaching and working with children."