By Sofia Duggan
USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs Career Practicum Student
Being a military teen comes with many obstacles and challenges, however, a growing wave of youth leadership within the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Community is providing a place for military teens to grow as leaders, connect with others, and engage meaningfully with their neighbors.
Established locally in August 2025 as part of the Boys and Girls of America’s teen leadership program, the Patch Youth Center’s Keystone Club’s mission is to make a positive impact on the community. Young adults ages 14 to 18 have the chance to take part in and organize community service events, allowing them to learn new leadership skills and build confidence.
“Keystone gives teens in Stuttgart a steady place to belong and lead,” the club’s lead advisor, Aleena Johnson said. “For military-connected youth, Keystone is more than a club—it’s a family that travels with you wherever you go next.”
Adjusting to constant moves and a different environment at every new duty station can be hard, she explained, so Keystone aims to provide stability, friendship, and involvement for military-connected children throughout USAG Stuttgart. The club operates over 4,700 chapters globally, but Johnson said the Stuttgart chapter’s focus on fulfilling the needs of Stuttgart’s diverse military-connected youth population makes it unique.
“Keystone members are here to bring people together and strengthen the sense of community that makes Stuttgart special,” Johnson said.
For Zoe Schneidt, the experience this year has been overwhelmingly positive. Schneidt joined the club to pursue more volunteer work for her community, while being able to participate in engaging opportunities with her peers. Through joining this club, Schneidt said she aims to gain skills in patience and empathy that will help her thrive in future volunteer settings.
“I hope that this club pushes people to find ways to help the community around them, go out of their comfort zone and find new friends,” Schneidt said.
Since its founding locally less than a year ago, the Keystone Club has already started giving back to the community in a variety of ways. Members have taken on roles as teen ambassadors at Stuttgart High School and participated in the school’s New Student Orientation and Open House. The club also hosted a Back to School Barbeque to help connect and engage military youths within the community, baked goods for the garrison’s gate security team during the holiday season, and helped organize a clothing drive to donate clothing to a local asylum.
Johnson said the club has had an excellent kickoff and the first year’s members are enthusiastic and that there is so much more to come.