Local youth visit Travis, learn about Air Force mission

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Travis Air Force Base, California, welcomed more than 100 current and former high school students March 10 during the base's Golden Bear Outreach and Recruiting event.

The event, now in its third year, provides potential recruits, members of the Air Force Delayed Entry Program and their families with information about Air Force careers.

Attendees included Junior Officer Reserve Training Corps students from Fairfield and Armijo High Schools in Fairfield, California, their parents and recent graduates of those schools.

Tech. Sgt. Earl Mata, 364th Recruiting Squadron recruiter and one of the event's organizers, said the event was held to educate people, so they know what life in the Air Force is like.

"Many people don't know what the Air Force is about," he said. "They've never been to a base, never talked or interacted with Airmen. As recruiters, we can show them pictures and answer questions, but with an event like this, they have a great opportunity to interact with Airmen and learn from their experiences."

The event featured question and answer forums with former military training instructors, former military training leaders and Special Forces Airmen. Attendees also saw a military working dog demonstration, weapons and military vehicles display, had lunch with Airmen from 60 Air Force specialties and toured a C-5M Super Galaxy, the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory.

"Being on a C-5 brings back so many memories," said Shelby Bouer, a DEP recruit whose father, retired Tech. Sgt. Michael Bouer, was a C-5 crew chief.
"I used to go to so many air shows and my father showed me everything on the aircraft," Bouer said.

Bouer also shared her favorite moment of the day; the MTI question and answer session.

"I never knew about basic military training," she said. "It's cool to know what the expectations are and to know that it's not that scary. This was a great opportunity."

Nicholas Palacios, from Vacaville, California, shares Bouer's enthusiasm.

"This is a great event to have," he said, "it shows future Airmen everything the Air Force has to offer."

Palacios graduated from Vanden High School in June 2014 and entered the DEP two months later.

"I've grown up around the Air Force and I've wanted to join the Air Force since the seventh-grade," he said. "It's something I just really want to be a part of and I'm ready to make a difference."

Palacios said he's interested in a career in explosive ordinance disposal. He even tried on an 80-pound bomb suit and performed several pushups while wearing it during the event's information fair.

"Going inside the bomb suit was my favorite part of this," he said. "It's an experience. It was eye opening and it's something that can help further my training before I ship out so I know how to prepare myself."

Event attendees interacted with more than 70 Airmen including firefighters, loadmasters and medical professionals asking several questions about the Air Force mission. Lunch and refreshments were also provided.

"We hope everyone understands the Air Force a little better," Mata said at the end of the day.