Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Rodriguez, 1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, and one of the drill sergeants assigned to the U.S. Army Experience Dallas Roadshow, instructs members of the DeSoto High School football team during an Army-inspired leadership challenge as part of the U.S. Army Experience Dallas Roadshow on July 27 at DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas. The weeklong roadshow brings Soldiers to five high schools, where drill sergeants and noncommissioned officers lead student athletes through challenges that strengthen leadership, communication and teamwork.
Photos by Pfc. Deviana Rodriguez, III Armored Corps Public Affairs
DESOTO, Texas — As screams echoed inside the DeSoto Eagles multipurpose complex July 27, the entire DeSoto High School football team moved into the front-leaning rest position as Army drill sergeants moved and yelled throughout the team’s formation, correcting technique and reinforcing discipline and teamwork.
The U.S. Army Experience Dallas Roadshow returned to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, allowing high school student athletes a glimpse into the life of an Army Soldier. The event marked the first of five high schools participating in the weeklong, immersive program.
Sgt. 1st Class Raziel Rivera, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, and a drill instructor for the U.S. Army Experience Dallas Roadshow, observes members of the DeSoto High School football team as they complete an Army-inspired physical training exercise during the U.S. Army Experience Dallas Roadshow July 27 at DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas.
Soldiers and former drill sergeants assigned to III Armored Corps at Fort Hood, volunteered and traveled to Dallas-area high schools, including DeSoto and Red Oak High School in Red Oak near Dallas, to lead student-athletes in team-building exercises inspired by the physical and mental challenges of the Army to test students’ resilience and sportsmanship.
The initiative kicked off at DeSoto High School’s multipurpose complex, where the four-time and current Class 6A Division II Texas High School football state champions participated.
La’Ron Whitehead, 17, a senior and starting center for the DeSoto High School football team, completes a push-up during the U.S. Army Experience Dallas Roadshow July 27 at DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas. The push-up is part of the team-building Army challenges led by former drill sergeants from Fort Hood during the community engagement.
Claude Mathis, head football coach of the DeSoto Eagles for the past fifteen years, was eager to speak to everyone the day of the event.
“This is first-class training,” Mathis said. “I think the team can understand what this means for our program and how this will develop these young men and get them where they need to be and how mentally tough you have to be in order to be disciplined, in order to be in the military.”
The roadshow is designed to strengthen relationships between the Army and local communities while exposing students to pressurized situations where unified effort is essential to support each other and keep one another accountable.
With their reputation on the line and a potential repeat championship on the horizon, DeSoto High School football players began sharpening more than their athletic skills and capabilities with the event.
SaRod Baker, 17, a senior running back for the DeSoto Eagles, spoke about how the challenges reinforced lessons the team hopes to carry into the upcoming season.
“Anybody can try to play as a team, but you’ve got to be consistent and rely on each other,” Baker explained. “You can’t play as a team for one play and then play for yourself the next.”
Fort Hood leaders hope each high school engagement leaves students with more than just a memorable experience and the lessons learned through each challenge build confidence and allow the students to grow and strengthen their communication.
Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Betts, public affairs operations noncommissioned officer and coordinator of the U.S. Army Experience, III Armored Corps, took the time to instill the meaning behind the Dallas Roadshow for the student-athletes.
“Being good young men of character starts at home, at school and on the field,” Betts said to the students. “The exercises we worked on today were all about the Army’s seven values. Those are the things we live by and want you to understand and take on.
“The main themes for the Soldiers to implement and students to focus on moving forward from this event are attention to detail and teamwork is key,” Betts emphasized.
Coaches observed and tested the team on their ability to work together and pay attention to key details. If they failed, both offense and defense would have to run military-style drills where relying on one another to complete the mission becomes mandatory.
Success depended not on individual performance but on communication, trust and supporting teammates under pressure.
Mathis was very appreciative and made sure to give a shoutout to all the service members who came out to help and participate in the event.
“I would like to thank the Army and the uniformed members here today and Fort Hood, Texas, for coming out and doing this,” he said.
The Dallas Roadshow was created as an extension of the U.S. Army Experience following its recent success, when over 6,500 students participated between the Basic Training Challenge and the Career Expo at Fort Hood back in March 2026.
The U.S. Army Experience is set to continue engaging with high schools and student athletes to become a staple in connecting the military and civilian communities here in Texas.