Soldiers prepare to bring the Army to the Air Show Published May 9, 2014 By Capt. Kelvin O. Scott and Sgt.1st Class Jesse Mosley 72nd Field Artillery Brigade Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Representatives and planners from the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade and 174th Infantry Brigade completed their final walk-thru in preparation for the 2014 Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Air Show, to be held here May 9-10. "The time we spent planning for our role in the Air Show has been invaluable," said Capt. James Alsfelder, a 2-315th Field Artillery team chief. "We have worked very hard. As a result, we've had quality training and strengthened our relationship with the members of the Joint Base community." This year's aerial display will feature the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, as well as a scheduled appearance by the U.S. Army's Golden Knights. The estimated 250,000 visitors to the Air Show and Open House will have the opportunity to interact with First Army personnel to better understand First Army's role on the Joint Base. "The large number of people here this weekend will allow us to engage with the community and our enterprise partners," explained Sgt. 1st Class Tristan Gross, the 2-315th Field Artillery Battalion's noncommissioned officer "In turn, we can better discuss how we fit in today's purple military climate." Several tenants of Joint Base will be attending the show. "Our booths will be laid out with the tools that we need to train for combat," said Lt. Col. Kevin Johnston, the 2-315th Field Artillery Battalion commander. "We will have a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled vehicle, M249 light machine gun, M240B, M2 machine gun, MK 19 grenade launcher, IED kit as well as First Army soldiers and pamphlets to inform the public about the First Army mission. This is an opportunity for us to connect with the public and discuss our mission with those who do not get to frequently interact with Army units." "We invite the public to come by our booth to speak with us so that we can discuss what we offer as representatives of First Army," added Johnston. "Whether you're a civilian, Soldier, Airman, Coast Guardsman, Sailor, or Marine, you'll learn something new when you stop by our booth." First Army Division East, in partnership with the USAR and ARNG, advises, assists and trains Reserve Component Forces, in both pre and post mobilization through multi- component integrated collective training, in accordance with Army Total Force Policy, Department of the Army, FORSCOM and First Army directives in order to achieve ARFORGEN directed readiness requirements. For more information about the Air Show, refer to http://www.jbmdlspecialevents.com/general-event-info-airshow.