Airmen become 'Big for a Day'

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  As they clamored around tables trying on helmets and jumping up and down on 20-man life rafts, more than 25 "Littles" met their "Big" for a day, they also experienced a day in the life of an Airman.

The Sedgwick County chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters recently visited McConnell Aug. 12, 2011, for the annual "Big for a Day" event, sponsored by the 349th Air Refueling Squadron.

While here, the Littles were matched with Airman Bigs. The Airmen helped the children try on flight helmets, tour the insides of a humvee and KC-135 Stratotanker, sit on an inflatable life raft and view an explosive ordnance disposal robot in action.

The display of Air Force career opportunities is one of the reasons that BBBS continues to participate in the event, according to said Mark Eby, Big Brothers Big Sisters executive director for Sedgwick County

"This event really exposes these kids to [opportunities] they didn't know about," he said. "A lot of these kids don't realize that they can become pilots."

The traditional military values are also a reason Eby brings the Littles to McConnell.

"This is a great way for them to not only learn about a career, but also provide them with the discipline they will need," said Eby.

The Airmen also benefit from the exchange. Airman 1st Class Roger Marchese, 22nd Comptroller Squadron budget analyst, said he enjoyed meeting his Little, Adon.

"I wanted to do this after hearing about the kids," he said. "Being able to interact with them is really fun."

One of the Littles, Khloe, 11, also enjoyed the displays but it wasn't her favorite activity.
"I really liked spending time with [my big]; that's been the best part," she said.

The Airmen and their Littles ended the day bowling at McConnell's Tornado Alley, relaxing and learning more about each other.

This was the fourth consecutive year that McConnell hosted the event. Despite the current Air Force operations tempo and increased deployments, the importance of having the Airmen spend time and possibly becoming permanent matches with the Littles was reason enough to hold the event again, said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Goggin, 349th ARS commander.

"This event really gives these kids a sense of what McConnell does," he said. "It is also a great way to give back to a community that does a great job of taking care of us."

McConnell has been involved with BBBS for more than 20 years, playing an influential role in the lives of Littles. McConnell continues as one of the organizations biggest contributors, Eby said.