You get invited to speak at a high school or non-military audience about the military, what would you discuss?

I've talked to elementary students on a couple of occasions as well as HS students. The first time with the elementary, I spent about two minutes telling them who I was, and then let them ask questions. I figured that was better than me droning on and they got to learn what interested them.

The second time was a Veterans Day speech. The audience was elementary students as well as the teachers. I was the guest speaker. I compared the Army Values to every day life and how those values guide us. I honestly didn't know what my audience consisted of until I arrived, but I was able to adjust fire and ensure the students were included in the presentation. Its only the second time in my life I ever received a standing ovation, which totally blew me away.

The HS kids, I talked about what it was like being a woman in the military, the many great women who have served and how they inspired me.

First rule of speaking to a group like this - talk about what you know. For me, I know about being a Soldier, a women in the military, an officer and a PAO. I can pretty much talk those things to death. Have an idea what you want to say, but be prepared to adjust fire at the last minute.

As far as what you should be prepared to answer, just be honest. Don't be in a hurry to answer. Stop, think about the question before you answer. You never know what kind of question you will get when you are dealing with students. I was once ask if I ever shot anyone. I looked at the little boy that asked, and I said, "it is true that as a soldier we have to be prepared to shoot a bad guy to protect our fellow Soldiers; however, I have been fortunate and have never had to shoot anyone. I hope I never have to."

Another little boy asked me what the biggest gun I ever shot was. Instead of saying a howitzer and leaving it at that, I stopped and said, "well, the gun was this big" and I walked the approximate length of the gun. Then told him, "its a very big gun called a howitzer." His eyes got very big and he said, "woooooooooah." I had fun with those kids. :-)

Great thread MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca. I'd start with a video of me wearing all our Batman gear and cooking an egg on the front deck of a Bradley (at NTC....but what does little Johnny know) and I would explain what challenges and hardships the military endures (PG version). I would tell him to imagine someone taking "Scruffy" out of his back yard and taking him away for 15 months and for him to try to imagine the hurt that he and Scruffy would endure. I would tell him to turn off his tv and radio and video games and phone and.......... for 15 months. I would tell him to imagine every bully who was ever mean to him ganging up on him and then ask how scared that would be.....then tell him that ther people in the military are going through the same thing, and that we all help keep each other safe. If the kid wasn't crying by then..........then I've lost my touch...lol

I've given presentations about the military for years on Great American Teach-In day at my kids schools. Depending on the age group I try to fit what I say to hold their attention.

The younger grades ask questions about silly stuff, what you eat, what kind of gear do you carry, where have you been stationed. The safety patrols want to know about the flag - folding it, what it means, why we respect it. The mid grades can be all over the map and it depends on teacher preference as to what I focus on. The high school classes seem more interested in all the different MOS's, what can they get into, how hard is basic, the differences between enlisted and officer.

I really enjoy doing this every year for the schools & I've found it always has the kids interested.