Belvoir HER-Os mentor middle school girls

Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Camarillo, public affairs specialist, demonstrates the Army's seven core values to a class of eight-graders at Saunders Middle School in Dumfries on Dec. 11

By: Julia LeDoux | Inside NoVA
Published: December 21, 2008

Fort Belvoir Speakers’ Bureau provided speakers to the HER-O Program at Saunders Middle School in Dumfries on Dec. 11.

Through HER-O, Helping to Educate though Relationships and Opportunities, volunteer speakers from the Fort Belvoir Speakers’ Bureau demonstrated that heroes are those willing to share their profession and personal stories of endurance, dedication and passion to encourage and inspire youth to know anything is possible and achievable through hard work and preparation.

HER-O provides seventh- and eighth-grade girls a chance to meet positive role models and conduct thought-provoking discussions on careers and issues facing today’s youth. The school partners with Prince William County service organizations to support this program.

Belvoir’s speakers’ bureau is one tool the installation community relations branch uses to connect local communities, youth groups, and civic organizations to the history, culture and traditions of Belvoir and the U.S. Army.

Three volunteer speakers from the bureau relayed their personal stories to local youth.

Sharron Jackson, a retired nurse from DeWitt Army Community Hospital, communicated the importance of diabetes education. Her presentation emphasized the importance of healthy eating and exercise as preventive measures and management approaches to diabetes.

Jennifer Brennan-Erickson, public affairs and marketing specialist for Army Management Staff College and Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Camarillo, public affairs specialist, discussed the Army’s Core Values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, courage and professionalism.
Camarillo said, “No matter what your job choice, you can take the Army values with you to succeed at anything you put your mind to.”

Brennan-Erickson encouraged all the girls to follow their passions. She said her passion for writing during middle and high school years benefitted her tremendously because she was hired as a journalist for the Potomac News, now the News & Messenger. Through that job, she was hired for her first government job as assistant community relations chief for Belvoir’s Public Affairs Office.

The HER-O program is at Saunders monthly, before and/or after school on a pre-selected date. The program also has an annual writing contest.