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AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- Since 2011, the partnership between
the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and the American School of Doha has
been thriving, with airmen providing volunteer services to the
school for a variety of activities. On March 10, 2014, the 379th AEW
hosted a field trip to Al Udeid Air Base for students, showcasing
the variety of careers available to airmen.
This was the
ASD's third annual 8th grade field trip to the 379th AEW, bringing
around 150 students on base to see how airmen live, where they work
and what they do. Stations were set up for the students to rotate
through various career fields, allowing them the opportunity to have
hands on demonstrations and ask questions of the airmen working in
that field. Stations included fire and emergency services, medical
response, security forces weapons display, emergency management,
explosive ordinance disposal, tactical vehicles display and the
popular K9 military working dogs demonstration.
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Senior Airman Joel Williams (right) demonstrates the use of a
Remotec ANDROS F6A heavy-duty robot during the American School of
Doha's third annual 8th grade field trip to Al Udeid Air Base,
Qatar, Mar. 10, 2014. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted a
field trip for students showcasing the variety of careers available
to Airmen. Staff Sgt. Tammy Cassidy (left) escorts students during
the visit and highlights the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by
Master Sgt. David Miller)
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"One of the best things about attending an international
school is being able to participate in trips and activities
that would otherwise be inaccessible to students in their
home countries," said Rob Gohr, ASD Middle School Associate
Principal. "The chance to visit the air force base in Qatar
is an incredible opportunity to see firsthand that not only
are these service men and women knowledgeable, hardworking,
and dedicated, but also friendly and courteous. Our hope is
that our students come away with a more accurate perception
of what the military is really like."
The
relationship between the school and the wing is a direct
result of the private organization on base known as Jar
Saleh (Arabic for 'Good Neighbor'), which is an organization
dedicated to providing volunteers for the local community;
ASD being one of the biggest recipients of volunteer hours
from military members on AUAB.
"Many of the wing's
command sponsored families attend ASD so we have a strong
connection to the local community and want to be good
neighbors," said Capt. Megan Kahn, the 379th AEW Command
Sponsorship Program manager and school liaison officer.
Kahn, a native of Keller, Texas and deployed from Joint
Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. commented this event
allowed the wing to show its commitment to the long-lasting
relationships in Qatar.
As the children enjoyed their
lunch, the finale for the day was a top notch performance by
the Air Forces Central Command band, Hypersonic.
"I
feel that music is a universal language," said Technical
Sgt. Amber Grimes, lead vocalist for Hypersonic deployed
from Yokota Air Base, Japan and a Columbus, Ga. native. "We
enjoy seeing the tears, listening to stories, hearing the
laughter and voices of beautiful children, and to leave a
place knowing that we have made a difference and touched the
hearts of many."
The AFCENT band played for 45
minutes and not only invigorated the kids with their
performance, but also boosted morale and helped build
camaraderie with the deployed airmen. Hypersonic performed
seven songs that got the children and airmen singing and
dancing along and was a great ending to a day of learning
and relationship building.
It is a win-win situation
according to the president of Jar Saleh, 1st. Lt. Equaosa
Iduwe, deployed from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. and a
Duncanville, Texas native.
"It is like an old African
saying, 'A home is not truly full of joy without the
laughter of children," He said. "This is our home for
several months and it fills our hearts when we can interact
with children because most of us have left our children
behind to serve here."
According to Gohr, he heard
one student say at the end of the day, "This was the best
field trip ever!" That is a win-win - mission accomplished,
Gohr added.
By U.S. Air Force courtesy story
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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