Altus AFB turns C-17 into classroom, takes off in STEM

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Katie Cousins
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Altus AFB Airmen and more than 30 local educators gathered in a classroom ... oh wait ... a C-17 Globemaster III, to reach their max velocity in motivating and educating youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Feb. 13, 2013.

The STEM Faculty Development Day, the first of its kind at Altus AFB, allowed educators to see how the base and its personnel could motivate their students.

The vision at Altus AFB is to encourage and increase STEM education in local schools with incentive-based programs.

"We are willing to be the bridge between STEM education and everyday careers," said Col. Anthony Krawietz, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander. "We are always looking toward the future, and our next generation is in your classrooms."

Throughout the Development Day, subject matter experts from the installation provided sample briefings, showcasing what their career fields have to offer in educational forums. Pilots, engineers, cyberspace operators and more, provided real-world application, example calculations and demonstrations.

Kathie Price, executive director of the Southwest Oklahoma Workforce Investment Board, highlighted the potential and opportunities that lie within Altus AFB and STEM. "It's a link you couldn't buy," she said. "Students should take every advantage of the opportunity and learning environment at Altus AFB."

Price also discussed the importance of aerospace and defense, agriculture and biosciences, and other wealth-generating industries. According to Price, 57 percent of the jobs in Oklahoma require postsecondary education.

From ridge-crossing math problems to line of sight communication, educators were inspired by Airmen who fuel the mission every day.

Cindy Bailey, a math teacher at Altus High School, wants to see students engage in active learning. "We can provide more for our students by showing them real-world application in the Air Force," said Bailey. "We need students to become thinkers and problem-solvers--I was hoping to find real-life application for my students today, and I did."