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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 C-130 and KC-135 aircraft to 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 showing these high school students the 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."

Col. Paul Tibbets, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing 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, taking care of the Airmen," Colonel Tibbets said. "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 a student, from the visiting high school. "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."