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Host nation students go 'hands-on' during base tour

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Veronica McMahon
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  More than 40 high school students and staff members from the American school downtown got a closer look at deployed servicemembers and operations during a tour of this desert air base, Feb. 24.

The students saw various aircraft and facilities on base while learning about the mission and meeting U.S. and coalition servicemembers.

The tour began on the flightline. Students were able to go inside a C-130 transport and a KC-135 tanker aircraft and learn about the vital combat support role these aircraft and crews fulfill. Along with climbing into the cockpits and trying on parachutes, the students met with the pilots and crews.

Airmen interacted with the students and talked about their jobs, the base and the mission.

"Today I'm giving a tour to these high school students of aircraft on the airfield," said Airman 1st Class Gratian Fredericks, 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron airfield management shift lead. "It's very rewarding and shows a lot of these kids what we do here. They get the opportunity to see us first hand and it says a lot."

The base's vice commander spoke about how this tour relates to partnership and the mission.

"One of our big focuses here at this base is of course taking care of the mission, and while we do that, take care of the Airmen," said Col. Paul Tibbets, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing vice commander. "But then our third priority, or focus area, is partners and building partnerships; and it really extends beyond this base. We really relish in the opportunity to continue that progress and have something that we can sustain for the long term and to be able to let the kids and the Airmen all be able to interact with one another."

After seeing the aircraft, the students saw how it's done on the ground at the 'Patriot' battery site on base.

About 20 U.S Army Soldiers hosted the students, who hopped into the gunner's seat of a tank, climbed aboard an Army Patriot Launch Station and inspected weapons.

"This is awesome," said Kyle Scribmer, a visiting high school student. "I love seeing everyone at work and really getting involved with the whole thing. It's incredible! This is definitely something you don't see every day."

Following the 'Patriot' battery site, students joined servicemembers for lunch at the dining facility where they were able to talk with representatives of many different career fields. Many military members were also curious of what the students had to say and why they are here in Southwest Asia.

"This tour presented a fairly unique opportunity for both the students in attendance and the Airmen they met," said Master Sgt. Mike Hammond, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs superintendent. "It's unlikely that many high school students back in the U.S. would get the chance to personally witness the deployed operations of their military.

Likewise, deployed Airmen are normally limited to merely describing their deployed life to family and friends back home," Sergeant Hammond said. "In this case, Airmen got to showcase the deployed mission and installation in person while making new friends with American students living in our host nation."

Wing leadership also met with the American school staff and began to brainstorm partnership ideas.

"We have had a wonderful day today. We really appreciate all your help with our students," said Dr. Phillip Stroup, American School Director of Development and External Relations, as he spoke to Colonel Tibbets. "We want to build a strategic long-term relationship with you and a partnership with your facility."

"Sir, it's been a sincere pleasure to host you at this installation," said Colonel Tibbets as he shook Dr. Stroup's hand. "More importantly, to really begin the relationship building that we are going to continue for years to come."