The U.S. Army invaded Keystone High School on Tuesday as members of the Clarion-based Army recruiting team and a large semi were on the school grounds.
Sgt. John Ernst, who has children attending the Keystone schools, said he has been trying to get one of the Army’s outreach vehicles to visit the area for about 10 years.
Ernst said the vehicle visits the Butler and Clearfield fairs, but it takes some long term planning for school visits.
The students were divided into small groups for their tour through the outreach vehicle. The students experienced a simulated parachute drop, firing a machine gun, flying a helicopter, firing a pistol and a few of the careers available in the Army.
Capt. Jeffrey Evans, the company commander of the Clarion recruiting station, said the trailer shows the students a few of the things the Army can offer.
“I spoke with him (Ernst) last year in an effort to get one of these vehicles,” said Keystone High School principal Kelli McNaughton. “He told us the Army has many different outreach vehicles that come for educational purposes. We have been looking for two years and finally, last fall we learned they would be coming. We are blessed and lucky we had this opportunity for our students,” McNaughton added.
“The students were unsure about this and some of them even asked if they had to do it,” said McNaughton. “I told them that is a rare educational experience and they should take advantage of it. When they come out of the vehicle they seemed to be glad they took advantage of it.”
Keystone senior Kylee King is working to attain her pilot’s license this summer at the Clarion County Airport.
“I am used to a fixed wing aircraft so trying to fly the helicopter was a little unfamiliar,” she said. “I enjoyed the different simulations presented in the vehicle.”
The vehicle visited the Jeff-Tech school in Jefferson County on Monday and other visits have been planned at the Clarion County Career Center and Clarion-Limestone, Clarion Area and Oil City high schools.