A soldier in the National Guard works double shift as a Capitol guard and an elementary teacher. He spends a few hours in the morning as a teacher in Virginia.
D.C. National Guard Sgt. Jacob Kohut is one of the over 20,000 National Guard members who will provide security ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. But he is on Zoom every morning in his Humvee to teach his elementary and middle school music students.
Provide a little bit of stability during these trying times
According to NBC News's Gadi Schwartz, Kohut said that he wants to help during this uncertain time. He explained that things have been turbulent since the pandemic happened, so he is all in to provide even a little bit of stability.
Kohut has been teaching music at Canterbury Woods Elementary School and Fairfax County's Frost Middle School for five years. When he is not teaching, he plays saxophone and bassoon in the 275th Army Band.
His students know about his two roles
His students know that he is in the military, so they know that he may get pulled away from teaching occasionally. Kohut tried to help his students relax when they learned he had to be of service in the wake of the Capitol riot. The National Guard would tell his students not to worry about him because they are all good over there.
Kohut has been quickly toggling between his roles for 11 years already since he joined the service. He said that his boots and uniform are right in the next room, so he is always ready to go.
According to "The Washington Post," Kohut played saxophone in high school, and he has earned a doctorate from George Mason University in music composition. Music has been an integral part of the National Guard's life.
On Saturday, the US Army shared a Facebook post to recognize Kohut's service. It wrote that Dr. (Sgt.) Jake Kohut has been working nonstop since Wednesday. The Army also wrote that he is dedicated to his CWES students apart from protecting the nation's capital.
Dr. (Sgt.) Jake Kohut, member of D.C. National Guard and band teacher at Canterbury Woods Elementary School, Fairfax... Posted by U.S. Army on Saturday, January 16, 2021
A real hero
Canterbury Woods principal, Diane Leipzig, tweeted out how grateful she is because of Kohut. She explained that Kohut is a real hero because he teaches between shifts besides protecting the nation.
This is what a hero looks like. A member of the DC National Guard, our band teacher Dr. Jake Kohut has been working around the clock since Wednesday to protect our nation’s capital. And between shifts, he is dedicated to CWES students, teaching from DC. @fcpsnews @FrostsPrincipal pic.twitter.com/nsDRuV08OQ
— CanterburyWoodsES (@Canterbury_Wood) January 13, 2021
CHECK THIS OUT : Girl Holds Bake Sale to Raise Money for Dad's Funeral
The dad-of-one has been remotely teaching classes in a Humvee while on his laptop. Sometimes he would be teaching from the drill floor before his 12-hour shift for the National Guard starts at ten in the morning.
Leipzig told the outlet that Kohut would do anything for his students because he loves them. She also said that the extremely dedicated teacher is an excellent example because he teaches the kids that practice, determination, and resilience are all important in life.
