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The Operation Air Force annual event gives cadets hands-on
training experience and a glance at various mission assets at bases
across the world. The program’s professional development tour is
designed for cadets to broaden their view of career opportunities
and mission operations before they fulfill their roles as future
leaders.
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June 14, 2017 - U.S. Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
Cadet Tucker Penny, North Carolina State Detachment 595, smiles
after watching an A-10C Thunderbolt II land during Operation Air
Force 2017 at Moody Air Force Base, GA. The annual event is designed
to give cadets a hands-on training experience and a glance at
various mission assets at bases across the world. The program allows
cadets to confirm or reassess their pursued career fields while
learning different support functions to become better leaders of
Airmen in the future. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Greg
Nash)
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“The Operation Air Force program is a huge benefit to cadets and
the Air Force because it gives cadets a first-hand view of the
breadth and complexity of the mission that can’t be replicated at
their universities,” said Capt. Brint Ingersoll, OAF 2017 escort
cadre. “Although the training, education and leadership experience
they’ve acquired is designed to make them more well-rounded
officers, seeing and understanding base operations will enhance
their ability to eventually become better leaders of Airmen.
“For the cadets, who may have never set foot on an Air Force
base, they can now see an installation’s resources up close and find
out more about the career fields of their interests. The intent is
for them to confirm or reassess what they want to pursue and the
exposure to different support functions helps make this possible,
which is extremely important.”
During their stay, the
students got a chance to talk to pilots and fly in aircraft, see
flight line maintenance operations, learn combative training and
decontaminate mock biological hazardous material.
In
addition, the cadets had a camaraderie event with base company-grade
officers and also received several briefings on topics such as being
a successful leader, increasing morale, managing people and handling
crisis situations.
According to Ingersoll, having access to
all these resources and conversations with people from a similar
path will improve the cadets’ decision making skills as officers.
“No matter what career field they go in, the basic knowledge
of the different Air Force specialty codes, units and private
organizations will serve them well as they will benefit from knowing
what resources to rely on when they face difficult or unfamiliar
tasks,” said Ingersoll.
“Coming in as a new officer can be a challenge, especially
leading people who may know more about a job function than
yourself,” Ingersoll added. “However, the opportunity to understand
the full spectrum of Moody’s unique mission will be a huge deciding
factor for what they plan on doing. I can tell them about my AFSC or
other jobs but nothing is better than hearing directly from the
Airmen entrenched in the fight.”
For rising sophomore
Tamarchus Burley, a Fourth Class cadet from Jackson State
University’s Det. 006, the 23d Security Forces Squadron’s military
working dog training facility was exactly where he wanted to be.
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June 14, 2017 - U.S. Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
cadets from across the nation pose with members of the 23d Security
Forces Squadron during Operation Air Force 2017 at Moody Air Force
Base, GA. The annual event is designed to give cadets a hands-on
training experience and a glance at various mission assets at bases
across the world. The program allows cadets to confirm or reassess
their pursued career fields while learning different support
functions to become better leaders of Airmen in the future. (U.S.
Air Force photo by Senior Airman Greg Nash)
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“I really enjoyed seeing the K-9 unit,” said Burley.
“Volunteering [as a mock threat] during the bite
demonstration was also very exciting,” said Burley. “Seeing
how security forces handles crisis situations during the
tasing exercise was also a painfully fun learning
experience. I liked seeing the daily operations of a
military cop, but the most impressive thing was seeing how
the Airmen here still had fun with some of the most
stressful jobs. It was a very eye-opening experience.”
Other cadets who’ve frequented Air Force installations
relayed the same excitement as they were awestruck from the
behind the scenes glimpse of Moody’s mission. For Cadet Col.
Kathleen Dickerson, Louisiana State University Detachment
310, the Ops AF visit was the opportunity of a lifetime.
“When I first heard about
Operation Air Force, I practically begged my cadre leaders to
nominate me for the selection process,” said Dickerson. “I had a
general idea of what [career] I wanted to do but didn’t know what
order to put jobs on my dream list. I knew that this would be the
perfect opportunity to see what was out there.”
Although she
grew up with a military background and visited multiple bases, she
relished the rare occasion of seeing Moody’s mission up close and
personal.
“It was really unique seeing how all the different
AFSC’s and units depend on each other,” said Dickerson. “Seeing the
collaboration and good relationships with all the units was amazing.
I learned so much, especially from the CGO’s. Talking with them
about the graduation and commissioning processes as well as getting
ready for our first duty stations helped me mentally prepare for my
last school year.”
Dickerson, who will become LSU’s Det.
310’s vice wing commander, hopes to instill the lessons learned here
to improve her leadership skills to be a personnelist or public
affairs officer.
By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Greg Nash
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
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