2nd Lt. Grant Taulbee, 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Eng. Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command

Spouses and Family members of the 84th Eng. Bn. are trained on the basic operation of the M4 carbine weapon in the Electronic Skills Trainer (EST) March 25th, during the Battalion's Koa Ohana Day. The day allowed for the Spouses and Family members to see what some of the warrior tasks are that their Soldier is required to be proficient at. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Laura Beth Beebe, 84th Eng. Battalion, 130th Eng. Brigade, 8th Theater SustainmentCommand)

Kim Barney, wife of 1st Lt. Anthony Barney, who is currently in Peru as the Joint Planning and Assistance Team Combat Engineer Manager from the 84th Eng. Battalion, and other members of "Team Knapper", lead by Capt. Karen-Nicole Knapper, signal officer, 84th Eng. Bn., struggle to cross a gap in the Leadership Reaction Course (LRC) during Koa Ohana Day, March 25th. The LRC was just one of the many events the 84th Eng. Battalion put on for their Spouses and Family members. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Laura Beth Beebe, 84th Eng. Battalion, 130th Eng. Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command)

"Team McCorkle", lead by Capt. Mark McCorkle, 84th Eng. Battalion Chaplain, pushes hard to place first in the 2-mile road march during the 84th Eng. Battalion's Koa Ohana Day, March 25th. Over 50 spouses and family members of soldier participated in the day's events. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Laura Beth Beebe, 84th Eng. Battalion, 130th Eng. Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment.

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — More than 50 spouses of Soldiers in the 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Eng. Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, participated in “Koa Ohana,” or Warrior Family Day, here, March 25.

Spouses got firsthand experience with various Army training tasks.
“We learned what it takes to be a member of a team, to appreciate the benefits of being physically and morally fit, and what it’s like to walk the path of a warrior (with) service, camaraderie, leadership, motivation and faith in self and each other,” said Nicole Paradiso, wife of Spc. Michael Paradiso, carpentry and masonry specialist, 84th Eng. Bn., 130th Eng. Bde.

In the morning, spouses participated in the electronic skills and the virtual squad trainers, watched a humvee egress assistance trainer rollover demonstration and familiarized themselves with the M249 squad automatic weapon. All of these tasks allowed spouses to learn basic warrior skills.

“It was so much fun, and I have a better understanding of what our Soldiers really go though on a daily basis,” said Coral Cullin, wife of Spc. Ryan Cullin, carpentry and masonry specialist, 643rd Eng. Company, 84th Eng. Bn., 130th Eng. Bde.

Spouses were then divided into squad-sized teams to compete against each other during the leadership reaction course, a two-mile road march and obstacle course. Each squad carried an original guidon it had created earlier in the day.

“Koa Ohana Day brought so many people together,” said Sasha Giacomo, wife of Spc. William Giacomo, construction equipment supervisor, 561st Eng. Co., 84th Eng. Bn., 130th Eng. Bde. “It showed the true meaning of a family (and) team; (team members) wouldn’t let you give up or give up on you when things got rough.”

The day ended with comments from Lt. Col. Jerry Farnsworth, commander, 84th Eng. Bn., 130th Eng. Bde., and a picnic on Hamilton Field.

Winning teams received awards for the LRC competition in the road march and obstacle course. Battalion Soldiers voted for the best team guidon award, as well.

By the end of the day, spouses were hot, dirty and exhausted, but all had a better understanding of their Soldiers’ sense of duty, honor and esprit de corps.

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