Sailors and U.S. Navy civilians assigned to various
expeditionary, meteorology and oceanography commands manned Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) static displays at the Natchez Visitor Center, Sept. 12.

More than 500 students from third grade through post-secondary colleges in the Natchez area were able to learn more about the sea services and their capabilities by meeting Navy divers, climbing on Naval Construction Force equipment and learning about ocean floor mapping from the Naval Oceanographic Office.

Sailors from Naval Oceanographic Office, Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Naval Construction Group 2, 22nd Naval Construction Regiment, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1 and Underwater Construction Team 1 provided a variety of static displays for the two-day STEM event during Natchez Navy Week, Sept. 12-13.

Builder 1st Class Adam Perry, assigned to UCT-1, from Abbeville, Louisiana, enjoyed explaining his role in the U.S. Navy to students who visited the static displays.

"I enjoyed letting them know what we do," said Perry. "Many of the students thought we were from the U.S. Army, but I enjoyed teaching them about the variety of Navy capabilities beyond just ships."

Concordia Parish Academy fourth-grade teacher, Michelle Joseph, appreciated the opportunity for her students to learn more about the Navy.

"Bringing our students out to this event and letting them explore and ask questions makes them more knowledgeable about the many professional opportunities the Navy has to offer," said Joseph.

Retired Army Maj. Sonjagela Johnson, parent of a student at Morgantown College Preparatory School in Natchez, discussed the importance of knowing about other service capabilities.

"Having my daughter and her classmates experience this event shows them there is a side to the military besides the Army," said Johnson. "This opens their minds to what the Navy does."

Robert Lewis Magnet School seventh-grade teacher Trenisha Goslee, who teaches STEM, didn't know what to expect at first with the static display.

"Once we got here, the students have been really excited and have been asking a lot of questions," said Goslee. "It's a great opportunity for our students to broaden their horizons and see what's out there beyond our town. I have several students interested in STEM and the opportunities available in the military. If only one kid gets something out of this, then it is worth it."

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil/, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy/ or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy/.

For more news from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.