JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
When a Soldier says, “I’ve got your six,” it means they have your back, or more broadly, that your battle buddy is backing you up. For students at East Terrell Hills Elementary School, their battle buddy is the 264th Medical Battalion.
Seeing Soldiers is always a familiar welcome treat for the students. Therefore, it came as no surprise when the battalion’s Soldiers delivered more than $3,000 in school supplies to the school Feb. 7.
Lt. Col. Werner J. Barden, 264th MED BN commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Carlisie Y. Jones, along with other members of the battalion, presented the supplies to the first-grade students and teachers. For the students, it was chance ask about being a Soldier and why each of them joined the Army. The students were especially interested in each Soldier’s jobs and their uniform patches.
“The students and teachers were in need of supplies at this time of the school year,” Barden said. “It’s about a 50/50 split between student and teacher supplies. Teachers and students normally begin a new school year with the supplies need to execute their mission. We start to see a need and impact after the holiday season, when supplies run low and money is diverted elsewhere.
“This is where we believe we can have the biggest impact, providing our educators the tools required to execute their job effectively,” Barden added. “By replenishing those cupboards with much need supplies, we can help ensure both the teachers and students have what they need to get them to the end of the year.”
As part of the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Adopt-A-School program, the battalion’s Soldiers are regular fixtures at East Terrell Hills Elementary School, with 50 cadre members volunteering more than 1,500 hours each year to events such as career days, festivals, appreciation breakfasts, health fairs, clothing drive, and reading days. During career days, students saw demonstrations on microbiology, physical therapy, pharmacy, medical imaging and combat medical first aid.
The battalion supports two mentorship programs, Adopt-a-Student (similar to the Big Brother/Big Sister program) and Watch D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students), which is a program providing positive male role models in and around the school. The battalion also participates in East Terrell Hills Community outreach programs, helping to build a sense of community, trust and support between surrounding neighborhoods and the school.
“They directly impact our students by mentoring, providing resources and being available to our community,” said Jennifer Gutierrez, East Terrell Hills Elementary principal, describing the support from the 264th Medical Battalion. “Endless hours have been dedicated to our school. They consistently support and assist our campus, without hesitation. We are so grateful and fortunate to have the 264th Medical Battalion as a community partner.”
East Terrell Hills Elementary School is part of the Northeast Independent School District. At an award ceremony in December 2016, Brian G. Gottardy, NEISD Superintendent of Schools, honored the battalion for its support. The JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Adopt-A-School Program is part of the many activities between the military and local communities providing Soldiers the opportunity to give back to the residents of San Antonio.