Andover students learn about Air Power

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Victor J. Caputo
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The superintendent of the Andover School District, Greg Rasmussen, and his Student Advisory Team visited McConnell March 31 to learn about the role the base plays in national defense and how the local community can impact this mission.

The group, which included Rasmussen, his assistant, and 10 students from Andover, Kansas' two high schools, engaged in dialogue about McConnell with Col. Albert Miller, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, and toured different parts of the base.

"I didn't realize how big of an operation it really is here," said Rasmussen. "We like to try to expose the students to different things around the community. McConnell Air Force Base has a huge impact on the local area, and I wanted the kids to have a better understanding of what happens here and what it's all about."

The 22nd Force Support Squadron school liaison officer hosted the group around McConnell. Many members of Team McConnell live in Andover, and cooperation between the school district and the base is vital to providing military children with a good education.

"We have such a large number of McConnell families that attend our school district so I think it's a natural mix that we try to understand as much about what happens here and that [the Airmen] understand what happens in Andover, too," said Rasmussen.

The communication and dialogue brought by the tour was designed to help bring about a positive impact for military children in Andover schools.

"This group was exposed to so many different facets of what our military is all about," said Amy Jensen, 22nd FSS school liaison officer. "It was such an awesome chance to show the kids the big picture."

The Student Advisory Team is comprised of an equal number of students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades from Andover High School and Andover Central High School. The team meets on a regular basis with the superintendent to provide the student body's viewpoint on issues that will be brought up to the school board.