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By 2nd Lt. Kent Williams Jr.
4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
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Soldiers with Company C, 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, set up mesh fencing Sept. 15, 2017, while volunteering in support of Pawtoberfest at Bear Creek Park in Colorado Springs. (Photo by 1st Lt. Sophia Imperioli)
COLORADO SPRINGS — Soldiers moved quickly through the sparsely wooded field, emplacing various tent parts and clearing areas for vehicles and other field equipment.
Contrary to the norm, the field equipment these Soldiers set up Sept. 15, 2017, had no tactical value — no camouflage, bulletproof glass or mounted machine guns.
Ten Soldiers with Company C, 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Styrker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, volunteered to help set up for Pawtoberfest in Bear Creek Park. The event raises awareness of the Humane Society of Pikes Peak Region’s efforts while allowing people to attend an Oktoberfest-style event with their four-legged friends.
“We’re service members who are engaging in service for the community,” said 1st Lt. Sophia Imperioli, Company C treatment platoon leader and volunteer event organizer. “What better way to interact with the community than actually going out and engaging with the people we serve.”
The Soldiers helped set up tents, spaces for vendors, food trucks and entertainment venues and ensured the 2-mile dog walk path was clear.
“Many of our Soldiers have dogs and regularly bring them to company social events. Our Soldiers also like to volunteer, so Pawtoberfest was a way for us to give back to the community and also involve the furry family members we love,” said Capt. Lisa Quiroz, Company C commander.
“Given how often 4th BSB Soldiers are in the field, they don’t get to be a part of the civilian community as they may like,” said Company C 1st Sgt. Victoria Reeves. “Events like this let my Soldiers be a part of the civilian community in a big and significant way, while giving back to the community at the same time.”
Reeves noted the grueling field schedule that essentially had 4th BSB Soldiers in the field one month on and then one month off from January 2017 to August 2017. She said some sections stayed in a field environment for as long as 110 days while others maintained 24-hour operations for weeks and months at a time.
“What is a better way to get rid of stress than helping out the community, playing with some puppies and spending some time in the beautiful parks of Colorado?
If it’s not something to be proud of — your Soldiers relax by helping others — what is?” said Imperioli.
