NEWPORT NEWS, Va. —
As part of the Army’s Adopt-A-School program, U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Staff and Faculty Company, U.S. Army Transportation School at Joint Base Langley-Eustis have “adopted” Mary L. Passage Middle School in Newport News.
The Adopt-A-School program aims to increase public awareness regarding the Army’s mission and to foster good community relations through contributing military resources and services to schools; nurturing the intellectual, emotional, social and physical growth of children in the local area.
According to Dana Madison, Mary L. Passage Middle School liaison, the mentoring, provided by the Soldiers, can make a difference in a child’s life by improving discipline, encouraging social interactions and potentially boosting their grades.
“It is important for these students to interact because they need to see someone who is pushing for their success,” said Madison. “They need someone that can guide them and give them a different perspective.”
To further their contributions, the Soldiers participate in a weekly Lunch Buddies mentoring session.
These lunch sessions allow Soldiers to provide a positive role model for students who may have issues at home, as well as an open-ear, allowing students to talk about their home and school life and other day-to-day stressors they may have.
“They get comfortable with us because they see a fresh-face without their teachers or parents around, so they open up a little bit more to us,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Shalayne Tucker, 2nd Staff and Faculty Co. cargo handling division team chief and instructor writer. “By opening up to us, they provide us with a better understanding of how we can help them navigate through the issues they may be having right now.”
Tucker believes the program not only benefits the students, but the Soldiers as well, allowing them to engage with the community and see the impact of their work.
“The students are excited to see us each time we visit,” said Tucker. “We’ve even had students that ask for some of our NCOs personally because they have built instant connections with them. If we are unable to make it to the school, on the next visit the students ask, ‘Where have you all been?’”
Unit and school leadership are scheduled to sign an official Memorandum of Understanding on May 24, 2017, setting forth a plan to make the 2nd Staff and Faculty Company’s presence within the school a more common occurrence. With this official memorandum, students have the opportunity to build stronger bonds with Soldiers, and Soldiers more mentorship opportunities.