Sgt. Osting does push ups with the class.

“Are you taller than Mr. Ulm?” wondered one student, while another asked, “Are you taller than a zombie?”

“I don’t know, it depends on the zombie,” Osting replied with a smile.

Having spent the last eight months stationed in Afghanistan, Osting was more likely to encounter insurgents than zombies. While in Afghanistan, Osting kept in touch with Landeck students and made plans to visit after he came home on Feb. 14.

A Landeck Elementary alum, Osting went on to graduate from Jefferson High School in 2007 and left for basic training two weeks later.

“Basic training is 10 weeks long and then after that, whatever training you get depends on what job you choose,” Osting said. “I was on the bomb squad, so my training took about a year.”