US Service Life July August 2014 | Page 12

Working to create connections with citizens of the community and soldiers and families of Fort Carson are Citizen Soldier Connection Board President Terrance C. McWilliams (right), a Retired Command Sergeant Major for Fort Carson, and Citizen Soldier Executive Director Elizabeth Quevedo, who served six years in the Army as an Engineer. McWilliams said. “Community members cover the cost for the soldiers to play and all proceeds is donated to Citizen Soldier Connection so we can continue to do our mission.” All proceeds from the Rocky Mountain Scramble go toward new uniforms and banners for the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard. Having community connections have proven helpful when military men and women decide to leave the military and return to civilian life, Quevedo said. “Transitioning out of the military is a huge deal,” she said. “A lot of our volunteers are retired military and they have gone through that transition. They can give advice, they can help with interview preparation and they can help with resumes.” “The Mounted Color Guard bring a pageantry to a lot of ceremonies,” McWilliams said. “They are dressed in the Civil War uniforms, so they bring a touch of history, as well.” “When I got out I felt like I had a little bit of an identity crisis asking myself, ‘If I am not a solider, who am I?,” Quevedo noted. “Citizen Soldier Connection wants to help with this transition as much as possible.” Another widely anticipated annual event is Citizen Solider Connection’s Friendship Golf Tournament, which pairs two soldiers with two civilians for a day