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Airman Explorers: Volunteers assist school

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Designated snack time and the sound of children's laughter is not a part of a typical day for deployed Airmen, but this day was the exception.

Airmen assisted fifth graders at a school in the region with a busy day of history-related activities during a field day Jan. 26.

The class recently finished learning about different pioneers who, throughout the years, contributed to what we know about the world today.

"Amelia Earhart is my favorite," said Anne Carpenter, a 5th grader at the school. "She was really cool and made being a woman pilot normal when it was only men who flew planes."

Some of the other explorers the students learned about included Neil Armstrong, Jacques Cousteau, Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, Mary Kingsley, and Sacajawea.

Some of the explorer stations -- all related to the explorers the children studied -- included knot-tying, first-aid, cartography, rocketry, team building, orienteering and spice tasting.

Senior Airman Ruben Heredia helped teachers run the orienteering station, and he was able to share some of his personal experience with the students.

"Explaining how to use a compass to all the groups has been pretty fun," said Heredia, native of San Antonio. "I remember learning land navigation and learning the military method of using a compass at my last base, so trying to break it down and not get too technical is really a fun challenge."

The school, comprised of many different nationalities and backgrounds, welcomed the Airmen with open arms.

Chad Martin, a 5th grade social studies teacher at the school said that the Airmen brought valued experiences to the children.

"The children meet people that they maybe wouldn't meet on a normal day, and that new experience is very beneficial for them," said Martin. "Some of the children here have never really been exposed to Americans, so it was great to have the military join us."

The field day was beneficial for the Airmen too, who were able to share with the students the skills the Air Force has taught them.

"It's been pretty cool being here," said Airman 1st Class Johnathan Bateman, native of Middletown, Calif. "I like getting involved in the community and I actually get to help these kids learn about history."

It was a rewarding experience helping the children broaden their understanding of basic exploration and spark their interest in the dynamics of history, said Bateman, deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.

"I definitely wish I had this when I was in school."