Sergeant Major Teaches Hunter’s Safety in Iraq
By
Sgt. Ryan Matson
101st Combat Aviation Brigade
 

This was the 25th time Glidewell has taught a hunter’s safety course since becoming a certified instructor back in 1998, and his second time teaching a course to Soldiers from his brigade while deployed to Iraq.

“It’s a great opportunity to interact with children and adults in a hobby that I’m already passionate about,” Glidewell said.

Glidewell began his class by asking the 68 Soldiers in the class, “Why do we hunt?”
Each answer was different, ranging from “To spend time in the outdoors,” to “so there will be enough deer next year,” to “so I can hide from my wife.”

The class covered all of the basics of hunters safety, such as firearm safety, different firearms used for hunting and their features, what to do when lost in the woods, dressing practically for the elements to avoid hypothermia, and much more.

Much of Glidewell’s class talked about military developments which were carried over into the area of hunting and fishing. For example, he said the development of wearing fluorescent orange while hunting started as an Army experiment to determine which color could most easily be seen in the wilderness. He explained how many of the rifles and firearms used to harvest game had been used as weapons of war that were brought back and used to hunt following conflicts. He said he did this because his audience this time happened to be his brigade’s Soldiers.

“It helps Soldiers relate to the subject,” he said. He also said Soldiers are already familiar with some of the subjects covered in the class.

 
“Soldiers know a lot about ethics – they receive ethics training in the Army,” he said. “And modern weapons are another thing they already know, so we don’t have to explain that as much, which is why I spent a little more time talking about bow hunting and muzzleloaders.”

He also talked about hunting as part of American history. He explained that the idea to rifle a barrel so as to provide a more accurate trajectory for the bullet is an American innovation. He explained the significance of brass on a muzzleloader.
“Many people think this is just for decoration,” Glidewell said, pointing to a slide showing the ornate brass plates on the side of the weapon. “While it is true that to a mountain man, his weapon was his life and he took great pride in it, the brass also does not conduct static electricity.”

Glidewell said he had a reason for relating all the military and American history during the class.

“Hunting is a part of our American heritage,” he said.

When the class was over, each Soldier had passed the written exam following the instruction segment and received a temporary hunter’s education certification card, which is good for 120 days, until they get their permanent card from the State of Kentucky. The certification is good throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. With the certification, Soldiers are able to purchase their hunting licenses. For $25, a Soldier can buy a license to hunt and fish on Fort Campbell which will be good until March.

One Soldier who received certification for the first time was 1st Lt. Susan Raglin, Company C, 96th Aviation Support Battalion.

 
“I’d never been exposed to hunting, but it’s always something I’ve been interested in, so the class was the perfect opportunity to see what’s involved when it comes to hunting, and the perfect platform to talk to experienced hunters,” Raglin said.

“The class gave me a lot of good information, such as what a good rifle is to start hunting with. I thought Command Sgt. Maj. Glidewell did a good job in keeping the audience engaged and watering down the information so things were simple and easy to understand. He’s an excellent speaker and it was cool that he took the opportunity to offer this to anyone interested in the brigade over here. Now that I have my temporary hunter’s safety card I want to get out there with someone who knows the sport!”

Glidewell said he got into teaching hunter’s education through teaching bow and arrow skills to cub scouts at Fort Campbell in 1993, before Aaron Daniels, a sportsman in the Fort Campbell area, asked him to become a certified teacher. He hunts and fishes on Fort Campbell and in surrounding communities and is an active member of the Fort Campbell Advisory Committee. He has been hunting since he was a youngster growing up in rural Northeastern Pennsylvania. Still, he said he has a lot to learn.

“I’m just a student of the art, not a subject matter expert,” Glidewell said.