ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Twenty-four Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from Denton High School, Texas, hopped aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft and took to the skies above south west Oklahoma, April 26, 2017.
The cadets learned the responsibilities and tasks a C-17 and its aircrew perform on a day-to-day basis.
“For our high school this is another opportunity to see the aviation perspective in the Air Force,” said retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bob West, Denton High School’s senior aerospace science instructor. “So other than just going into college or a trade, they get to see the functions of a military base.”
The Junior ROTC take a yearly fieldtrip to visit a military installation to show the cadets options after graduating, many of the cadets were able to see careers in aviation, medical and logistic.
“We take annual trips to come to places like here and see these professionals at work,” said West. “Coming here gives these kids a sense of ‘hey if I join the military, I can get to do something like this.’”
Having these cadets visit Altus can not only benefit themselves but the U.S. Air Force as well.
“It is important that we inspire these students because there is a good chance that they will be our replacements someday,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Timothy Jaskot, 97th Operation Support Squadron air drop instructor loadmaster. “Having them come here lets us show case our abilities not only as an Air Force but as a military.”
And for some of these students it does exactly that.
“This is a real exciting experience because I’ve always wanted to join the Air Force,” said Air Force Junior ROTC Cadet Capt. Andrew Karmazinas, Senior at Denton High School planning on joining Air Force ROTC in college. “It’s nice to see how the military works.”
“These kids have so much potential. To watch them grow as young freshmen to seniors and get to that point where they need to make a decision whether or not they’re going to college or going into a trade,” said West. “This gives them another option to look at.”