Family Day at Festus Guard Armory proves an eye-opening experience

By Bill Phelan

Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL
FESTUS, Mo. - National Guard recruits of G Company put on a display of soldiering skills for friends and family members Saturday during Family Day at the Festus Armory. The annual event gives civilians a chance to witness the type of military training provided to soldiers of the Guard's Recruit Sustainment Program in which new recruits get a taste of military drill before they leave for basic Army training.
Saturday's demonstration included 10 team events challenging each recruit in marksmanship, physical strength, communication, navigation and other basic soldiering skills.
"We try to design each event with an element of fun but focusing on the training these recruits have learned over the last several months," said Master Sgt. Timothy Davis, the area noncommissioned officer in charge of the Recruit Sustainment Program. "For the family members, seeing their soldier implement the training they've gone through is very rewarding and satisfying. Hopefully this will show them that the program is working."
As moms, dads, and siblings looked on, 35 soldiers worked their way through a muddy obstacle course, assaulted a fixed position with grenades and pushed a military vehicle, among other events.
For Natalie Pelafos, of St. Louis, who was watching her son, Pvt. Silas Berger, the Family Day experience was as validation of Silas' decision to enlist in the National Guard.
"This is eye-opening," Pelafos said. "It really puts things in perspective. It's validating in a way because the sergeants are very competent and professional and it gives me a sense of confidence that Silas is in good hands. It's also becoming quite clear to me that my discipline pales in comparison to Army discipline."
"I'm very happy to have been given this opportunity to see what Silas has been going through," added his sister, Anna Berger, of St. Louis. "I think this is great."
Stan Garmer drove all the way from Springfield, Mo. to watch his son, Pvt. Ben Garmer, of St. Clair, who enlisted at the age of 29.
"When (Ben) first told me he was going to join the Guard I questioned that decision," Garmer said. "But it's great to be able to see the type of training he's going through and I'm very proud of him."
Soldiers who have gone through the Recruit Sustainment Program say it gives them an obvious advantage during basic training that other recruits don't have.

"The superior training of a Recruit Sustainment soldier is something that is immediately noticed by the drill sergeants at basic training," said Pfc. Nicholas Marty, of St. Louis, a recent graduate of the program. "This program was directly responsible for me being named a platoon guide during basic training because I already knew how to tie a Swiss seat for repelling, something I would have never known how to do without the program."
"What we do in recruit sustainment is teach these young people the basics so when they get to basic Army training it's not a shock to them," added Command Sgt. Maj. James Walters, of the 27th Recruit and Retention Battalion. "They will know how to drill, how to wear the uniform and the rank structure. Giving these families an opportunity to see the program in action gets them on board with it and motivates them to support their soldier loved one."
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For more information about this release, please contact UPAR Bill Phelan at 314-416-6639 or cell, 314-556-5428 or e-mail bill.phelan@us.army.mil .