Edwards Officers help cadets prepare for Air Force life

  • Published
  • By Capt. Melissa Horton
  • Air Force Flight Test Center
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Fifteen officers from Edwards visited the United States Air Force Academy Nov.12 and 13, in support of the Cadet Wing Sponsor Program.

As part of the AFSC mentorship program established through the Company Grade Officer Council, the 412th Test Wing sponsors Cadet Squadron 14, the "Killer Cobras."

"As the cadets come closer to the decision of what career path they would like to pursue, Edwards officers have volunteered their time to mentor and answer questions in order for the cadets to make the best decisions," said Capt. Tamilyn Becker, a 2002 graduate of the academy who helped coordinate and oversee the visit.

Led by Col. William Thornton, 412th TW commander, Edwards officers from a wide range of career fields including Acquisitions, Pilots, Engineering, Scientist, Air Field Management, Aircraft Maintenance, and Legal took the trip to teach the cadets about the various Air Force career fields.

During the visit, the Cadets of Squadron 14 escorted officers on tours of various locations around the campus, where the officers experienced life as a cadet firsthand.

On the first day of their visit, the Edwards officers visited the USAFA flight line, where they toured the Airfield Operations, Powered Flight Operations, and Parachute Operations.

Cadets from the Wings of Blue Parachute Team gave a presentation and guided tour of their facilities.

Edwards officers also visited the Cadet Chapel, which included an informational briefing and tours of the Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Buddhist chapels.

The officers then observed what is known as noon meal formation from the Terrazzo before joining the cadets for lunch at Mitchell Hall. After lunch, the officers answered one-on-one questions from cadets interested in their career fields. In the afternoon, the officers toured various academic departments and buildings, including the Cadet Space Operations Squadron, Mechanical Engineering Lab and Systems Engineering Lab.

They ended the day with a tour of the Falconry Complex, which houses the academy's many falcons trained to fly before football games and at cadet wing parades.

Saturday morning, the officers briefed cadets and cadet candidates from the USAFA Preparatory School on their career fields. Several hundred cadets attended the informational panel discussions and learned more about life after the academy.

Later that day, the officers were treated to a tailgate party in the snow catered by Squadron 14 before watching the Falcons defeat the University of Nevada at Las Vegas football team 45-17.

"This trip is just one of the many events and projects that the 412th TW and Cadet Squadron 14 are involved in," said Capt. Becker.

The 412th TW plans to sponsor a trip for the cadets of Squadron 14 to visit Edwards in early 2010. The trip will include tours of the base, test facilities, and the local area and will allow for interaction between cadets and base personnel, in an effort to show what life will be like after they graduate from the academy into the operational Air Force.

The cadets are sending care packages to members of the 412th TW who will be deployed over the holidays to show support of all they are doing.