JROTC tour mentors future leaders

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, KAN. --  As they begin their journey into adulthood, and possibly the military lifestyle, McConnell opened its doors to more than 100 members of Wichita's public schools, April 14.

The students, members of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs from six middle schools, viewed firsthand the daily operations of a typical Air Force base.

"For many of these students who do not grow-up in a military environment, JROTC is their first introduction into the military lifestyle," said Staff Sgt. Francis Nguyen, 184th Intelligence Wing Civil Engineer assistant and Hamilton Middle School leadership instructor.

While at McConnell, the students experienced a variety of career fields, learning how they each support the base's refueling mission.

One of the interactive portions of the tour included a display by McConnell's Honor Guard, who not only opened the doors to their facility, but also simulated details for a traditional funeral with military honors.

Members of the honor guard also tested the students on their ability to perform basic military facing movements during a drill exercise. That left one student, Cadet Sergeant Anacari Martinez, a 13-year-old student from Truesdell Middle School, standing. Cadet Martinez enjoyed the insight into McConnell that the tour provided.

"I really enjoyed the chance to display my facing movements," she said. "I also enjoyed learning that 24 hours out of every day, three McConnell aircraft are in the sky; I didn't know that."

In addition to the base honor guard facility, the students were provided a McConnell unit mission brief at the 350th Air Refueling Squadron headquarters, a static display of one of the 63 KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to McConnell, a trek through the 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron individual protective equipment warehouse, a chance to view 22nd Medical Group's medical training equipment and a tour of the base dormitories.

Though the students have several years to decide whether or not to continue their military experience, the chance to tour the base provided them a unique glimpse into a day in the life of a McConnell member, said Staff Sgt. Kelly Duff, McConnell's Honor Guard NCOIC.

"I think that a lot of the time when these kids think of the military, they immediately think of today's fight, and they don't think about the day-to-day operations of the military," she said. "I think this provided them with the basics of what a normal day is like."

The JROTC middle school programs introduce students to military customs and courtesies, citizenship in the United States, first aid, wellness, health and fitness, basic drill and ceremonies, effective communications, management, human relations and life in the U.S. military.

"The tour was a great success and all the cadets were extremely impressed with what they saw," said retired Army Col. Robert Hester, retired Army Lt. Col. USD 259 JROTC and Leadership Program director. "The tour was not only educational; it opened the student's eyes to the Air Force."