It wasn't an average day for Georgia state Rep. Barbara Sims.

Instead of voting on issues or conducting business at the capital, the Augusta Republican spent Sept. 9 wearing a camouflage uniform and Army boots.

"I've always been so proud of Fort Gordon and so proud of the people who serve," said Mrs. Sims. She said her respect for what the military does was deepened on Sept. 9 when she took part in the Augustans in Army Boots program.

About once every three months, government and community leaders step into the shoes of soldiers and spend 24 hours performing some of the same tasks they do. They eat meals ready-to-eat, shoot an M-16 on the range and spend the night in a tent.

The next morning, they are dubbed honorary second lieutenants.

"The purpose is to foster better relations with community leaders," said 1st Lt. Branden Turner, of the 35th Signal Brigade, who served as the officer in charge of the event. "It gives them a better understanding of today's military."

Mrs. Sims said one of the best parts of the event was the weapons training. "I love the shooting."

The group spent some time at the Regimental Noncommissioned Officers Academy's forward operating base, which is set up to resemble a base in Iraq.

It is walled, and armed guards are at each corner. There are several tents within the base, including a communications tent and a tent city, where the officers sleep.

One of the noncommissioned officers serves as the mayor of the forward operating base.

That base is still under construction.

"We're waiting on the state of Georgia for a permit on our well," said Command Sgt. Maj. John Murray, the commandant of the Regimental Noncommissioned Officers Academy, who spoke to the Augustans in Army Boots group and explained the purpose of the forward operating base.

Other members of the recent class included Charles Esposito, the executive director of the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home; Debbie Kalliokoski, of the Medical College of Georgia development office; and Augusta Commission member Don Grantham.

During the 24 hours, each civilian is paired with a soldier who helps explain how the Army operates.