Fort Drum's 'Adopt a Platoon' Program Offers Community Support to Deployed Soldiers

The Northern New York Fort Drum Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army is calling on community members to participate in the "Adopt a Platoon" program, which offers vital support to soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division during their overseas deployments. This initiative aims to provide these soldiers with a reminder that they are appreciated and supported while they carry out their missions far from home.

The program focuses on fostering direct communication between community members and platoons, which consist of 20 to 50 soldiers. Once a platoon is adopted, the assigned platoon officer or sergeant will contact the adopter, ideally before deployment, providing details such as a roster with names, ranks, and interests, as well as a mailing address when the platoon reaches its destination.

The heart of the program lies in maintaining communication through email and sending small but meaningful tokens of appreciation, such as birthday or holiday cards and care packages. Soldiers are encouraged to let adopters know if they have specific needs or requests. With deployments typically lasting around nine months, participants are urged to stay connected, though the biggest expense involved is usually postage for mailing packages.

Those interested in adopting a platoon or seeking more information can reach out to retired Command Sergeant Major Joseph McLaughlin at [email protected].