{"id":287379,"date":"2024-09-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=287379"},"modified":"2024-09-25T06:33:22","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T06:33:22","slug":"local-childrens-home-residents-interact-with-soldiers-tour-helicopter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=287379","title":{"rendered":"Local children\u2019s home residents interact with Soldiers, tour helicopter"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>

\n 1 \/ 4<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mckenzie Patangan, right, a helicopter pilot assigned to U.S. Army Aviation Battalion Japan, introduces a group of local Japanese children to a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Camp Zama, Japan, Sept. 23, 2024. Residents from the Central Children\u2019s Home toured the helicopter as part of their visit to the installation that also included playing dodgeball with Soldiers.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Residents
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 4<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Residents from the Central Children\u2019s Home check out a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Camp Zama, Japan, Sept. 23, 2024. The children toured the helicopter as part of their visit to the installation that also included playing dodgeball with Soldiers.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"A
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 3 \/ 4<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n A resident from the Central Children\u2019s Home tries on a pilot’s tactical vest while touring a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Camp Zama, Japan, Sept. 23, 2024. A group of children from the home saw the helicopter as part of their visit to the installation that also included playing dodgeball with Soldiers.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Residents
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 4 \/ 4<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Residents from the Central Children\u2019s Home check out a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Camp Zama, Japan, Sept. 23, 2024. The children toured the helicopter as part of their visit to the installation that also included playing dodgeball with Soldiers.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

CAMP ZAMA, Japan \u2013 Several residents from a local children\u2019s home made their first visit here Monday to interact with Soldiers and see a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter up close.<\/p>\n

Soldiers invited nearly a dozen children, ages 4 to 12, from Central Children\u2019s Home in Sagamihara City to the installation as part of the U.S. Army\u2019s ongoing partnership with the home.<\/p>\n

The initial stop for the children was Kastner Airfield, where Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mckenzie Patangan, a Black Hawk pilot assigned to U.S. Army Aviation Battalion Japan, introduced the children to the helicopter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen other instances where the [Camp Zama] community has helped out local organizations and then finally an opportunity aligned where I was able to help out,\u201d she said of the event. \u201cI think it\u2019s a good way to give back to our local community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patangan provided headsets to each child as they sat and talked to each other in the back area of the helicopter that was parked on the tarmac.<\/p>\n

The children also had their chance to go into the cockpit and wear a pilot\u2019s helmet and tactical vest.<\/p>\n

Patangan said she was glad to offer the young guests such a unique experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really didn\u2019t know what to expect, but given [the children\u2019s] overall positive attitude, they were so happy to be here,\u201d she said. \u201cIt honestly really made my day seeing them happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The children then traveled to the Youth Center to meet with members of the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program and play a few games of dodgeball with them.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Residents
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 1 \/ 2<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Residents from the Central Children\u2019s Home play dodgeball with Soldiers inside the Youth Center at Camp Zama, Japan, Sept. 23, 2024. The children also toured a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter as part of their visit to the installation.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Residents
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 2<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Residents from the Central Children\u2019s Home take a snack break after playing dodgeball with Soldiers inside the Youth Center at Camp Zama, Japan, Sept. 23, 2024. The children also toured a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter as part of their visit to the installation.
\n (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Spc. Craig Kernen, a BOSS member assigned to the 88th Military Police Detachment, decided to volunteer for the event as his way of helping foster relationships with the Japanese people.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were excited to play with us and see our uniforms,\u201d he said of the children. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to put a smile on their faces and at least brighten their week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite him being a little tired from working the night shift, Kernen said he still wanted to come to be an ambassador and present a positive aspect of the Army to the children.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s especially important overseas in a foreign country\u2026 to kind of introduce them to how Americans do things, how we operate, how we talk, how we are,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s important for us to make a good impression out there and show them what we\u2019re actually about.\u201d<\/p>\n

While this specific group of children had never been to Camp Zama, the event also marked the home\u2019s first visit to the installation since the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Yukiko Yamagishi, a supervisor at the home, said that Camp Zama and Naval Air Facility Atsugi personnel have continued to support their residents by holding holiday parties at the home.<\/p>\n

Last month, Soldiers from the 623rd Movement Control Team also visited the home to play dodgeball with the children, leaving them yearning for more of the friendly competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey played dodgeball at the end of the visit,\u201d Yamagishi said, \u201cbut it wasn\u2019t enough time, so they were very excited to come here and play dodgeball again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tour of the helicopter was an eye-opening experience for the children as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey told us in advance that there would be a helicopter, but as soon as we got there the children got even more excited to see it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Yamagishi said all the children were very pleased with the visit as she expressed gratitude to the Camp Zama community for the ongoing support.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids really enjoy engaging with the U.S. military,\u201d she said, \u201cso I think it\u2019s very important that this relationship continues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related links:<\/strong><\/p>\n

U.S. Army Garrison Japan news<\/a><\/p>\n

USAG Japan official website<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mckenzie Patangan, right, a helicopter pilot assigned to U.S. Army Aviation Battalion Japan, introduces a group of local Japanese children to a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Camp Zama, Japan, Sept. 23, 2024. Residents from the Central Children\u2019s Home toured the helicopter […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":287381,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-287379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=287379"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":287388,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287379\/revisions\/287388"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/287381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=287379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=287379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=287379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}