Cadets get first-hand look at future as officers Published July 30, 2008 By Nick DeCicco 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Two sets of cadets recently visited Travis for a first-hand look at what lies in their futures as commissioned officers. The groups are broken into the Operation Air Force set, a career-broadening program for eight Air Force Academy cadets, and a pair of Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets who earned visitation scholarships as part of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association. The goal of both programs is to give the cadets first-hand knowledge of the daily challenges confronting senior military leaders. The cadets also gained insight into what it takes to apply professional military education to real-world situations. "It makes you excited to do your job, to get out there with real people, not sitting in a classroom," Cadet Katie Anderson said. Cadet Anderson, who was with the Ops Air Force group, is looking at a future in the space and missile specialty. The visiting cadets were paired with the jobs for which they were slated, so would-be pilots such as Cadets Ian Crawford or Corey Apodaca spent time with fliers while Cadet DiAundra Davis spent time with the judge advocate office. The length of the groups' stays differed, with the Ops Air Force cadets staying three weeks to the AFCEA guests' one. The Academy cadets took a flight on a KC-10 Extender as well as spent time in the C-17 Globemaster III simulator. "That was very interesting, very realistic," Cadet Cassandra Overman said of the simulator. Cadet Overman, who aspires toward a career in logistics, said the visit helped her grasp the scope of the Air Force's operations. "You take care of the base, not just the aircraft," she said. "There are hundreds of people working to get the plane in the air. You see how the missions are crucial and see how the enlisted are essential." She added that there is a steep learning curve for newly minted second lieutenants. "Lieutenants I've talked to say that you first arrive at a base and after all your training, then you have to learn to play catch up with the enlisted people who are already there," she said. For the AFCEA guests, Future Heroes, a private, nonprofit organization Kyle Fisher founded, supported the stay. This is the second year for the AFCEA program, doubling in size from the 2007 installment. Travis is the first of three bases Cadets Eric Lundberg and Davis are scheduled to visit. During the first hours of their visit July 28, Cadets Davis and Lundberg met with base leadership. Initially, Cadet Davis was nervous to meet with the base commander, Col. Mark Dillon, and Col. Jamie Crowhurst, the 60th Air Mobility Wing vice wing commander, but her nerves cooled after speaking with them. She peppered the pair with questions about their time in the service and their responsibilities at Travis. "These officers made you feel comfortable regardless of rank," Cadet Lundberg said. "They could've spent their morning with 25,000 people, but instead they spent it with two." Colonel Dillon reminded Cadets Davis and Lundberg that, as base commander, he's in charge not just of the Air Force mission, but in running the base as a city, describing himself as "the mayor of Travis." The AFCEA cadets also visited with Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams, who gave them the perspective of an enlisted member. "The enlisted are the backbone of our Air Force," he told them. Later, he stated that his biggest challenge during his 25 years in uniform was learning that "the Air Force is part of you, not that you're part of the Air Force," meaning that the choice to join the military is a never-ending commitment, not just a job. The cadets found the first-hand knowledge helpful and informative, including Cadet Crawford, who said the experience verified his career choice. "It seems like a cool lifestyle," he said. "I like what I've seen. It's confirming my decision."