Active-duty soldiers, Reserve, retired, National Guard, plus their dependents and also disabled veterans, were granted free gate admission to the 2015 Washington State Fair Monday, Sept. 14. The next military appreciation day at the fair will be Monday, Sept. 21.

As part of the fair's military appreciation day, patrons Monday were afforded a rare opportunity just inside the Gold Gate to climb aboard an M1117 Armored Security Vehicle, typically used in combat missions by the 42nd Military Police Brigade, 504th Military Police Battalion, part of the 54th Military Police Company at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Visitors also got to learn about the responsibilities of the military veterinarians from JBLM, who brought their Veterinary Expedition Clinic to the fair.

"It's all about interaction here," said Sgt. First Class Justin Puetz, the public affairs officer with the U.S. Army 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command. "Kids get to talk to the military and see what it's like to be a military police officer or a (military) veterinarian."

Several military police officers of the 42nd Military Police Brigade were at the fair educating people about the many facets of their job and welcoming them to try on their tactical gear like the IOTV vest and the ACH Kevlar helmet.

Adjacent to the ASV was the Veterinary Expeditionary Clinic, part of the 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade. The clinic is fully deployable to support U.S. troops overseas.

Major Rachel Thomas said the veterinarians also help to augment the veterinarian staff at the Washington State Fair.

"During the fair, the detachment provides animal inspections," Thomas said. "We also provide food safety inspections for the Department of Defense. We inspect all the food that is procured by the DoD."

On Monday, Thomas and the detachment had many of their tools on display for visitors to view.

"People ask us a lot about what we do," Thomas said. "A lot of people don't know we exist."

Meanwhile, at the ASV, Specialist Blake Colvin said he was answering questions asked by older adults, many of them grandparents.

"Grandmothers and grandfathers are climbing in," Colvin said. "They're asking about fuel mileage and what kind of motor (powers the ASV)."

Joseph Do, 21, from Issaquah, boarded the ASV and wedged his way in to sit in the driver's seat, popping his head out.

"It was a lot smaller on the inside," Do said. "Looking from the outside, you would think it was spacious."

The ASV and the clinic will be at the fair again on Sept. 21. Visit www.thefair.com.