CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Sgt. Robert Miller, a Clarksville native and 2010 graduate of Rossview High School, spoke to ClarksvilleNow.com about his experience as a mentor for U.S. Army All-American Bowl team members.
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl (AAB) is the nation’s premier high school All-American game, featuring the best 90 players in an annual East vs. West matchup every January in San Antonio’s Alamodome.
“This is such a great stage for these kids and it’s really exciting to see how excited they are to be here,” Sgt. Miller said.
According to DVIDS, soldier mentors are selected because they have excelled in their personal and professional endeavors and are paired with AAB participants to share their personal stories of perseverance, selfless-service and excellence.
Sgt. Miller was selected after he was named Soldier of the Year in November.
“Hopefully I can use that experience and the hard work it took to get there, including the teamwork from my family and everyone around me, to try to pass that on to some of these young players and musicians,” he said.
The AAB provides a platform for soldiers to engage with students, families, and community officials while showcasing the Army’s latest innovations in technology and its ongoing commitment to the development of America’s future leaders.
Nearly 100 football players and 125 marching band musicians and color guard members were selected from across the country to participate in a week focused on leadership and teamwork alongside Army soldiers and senior Army leaders.
Sgt. Miller hopes these students will learn from his experience as a soldier as well as a team player.
“One of the main things that the Army really instills is teamwork and trust, being able to count on the person to your left and right and building that circle of people that can count on you,” he said. “I would tell them to really challenge themselves, to chase their dreams. Sometimes the easy option isn’t the best option and you need to be pushed outside your boundaries. I’d also encourage them to stay humble and use this as an opportunity to better those around them, rather than just themselves.”
The game will be broadcast live on NBC January 7 at 12 p.m. CST.