jet shadow
Next Warrior Flyby
TBD




jet shadow
Next Ellsworth Fire Department Live Fire Training

TBD

           





           


 
            
 
 
  
 

Operation Air Force prepares future officers

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- As they continue their journey toward becoming commissioned officers, 14 Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets toured Ellsworth to view firsthand the daily operations and experiences of the United States Air Force.

The cadets, visiting from various colleges and ROTC programs around the country, visited Ellsworth during the first phase of "Operation Air Force," a three-week Professional Development Training program.

The annual program is available to college sophomores enrolled in ROTC or the United States Air Force Academy, and involves travelling to an active duty Air Force base during their summer break. While there, the cadets engage in career shadowing, mentoring and familiarization.

"For many cadets who did not grow-up in a military environment, ROTC is their first introduction to the military," said 1st Lt. Johanna O'Toole, 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight commander. "The Operation Air Force program is an excellent way for these officer candidates to get a better feel as to what life will be like as a young second lieutenant in the Air Force."

For the first part of the program, the cadets visited various organizations at Ellsworth to develop a clearer understanding of all the parts and pieces involved in making a wing function, Lieutenant O'Toole said.

The cadets received exposure to these day-to-day operations at Ellsworth by touring the 34th Bomb Squadron, participating in a 28th Security Forces Squadron K-9 demonstration, observing a B-1B Lancer Flight Simulation, attending a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives training and sitting-in on a Combat Arms Training and Maintenance briefing.

For the second part of the program, the cadets were paired with a company grade officer or senior enlisted member in their top career preference.

This introductory experience into their preferred career fields was eye opening to each of the cadets involved, including Cadet 4th Class Siobhan Bennett, a sophomore English and Mass Communications major from Assumption College in Worcester, Mass.

"Seeing what people do on a daily basis has really broadened my outlook on the different career fields in the Air Force, and allowed me to interact with the Airmen in these fields," Cadet Bennett said.

"The opportunity to interact with [Active Duty] officers from different organizations is one of the biggest benefits of this program," said Maj. Joseph Kleeman, 34th Bomb Squadron mobility chief and base director of Operation Air Force. "This allows them the ability to view the Air Force themselves and makes it clear what the job entails for them."

The chance to peruse an active duty base and its entire scope of career fields also helped motivate cadet toward their future.

"This program has really taught me what to expect and has really motivated me to join the Air Force when I graduate," Cadet Bennett said.

The first three-week session of Operation Air Force will conclude June 19. Ellsworth will host two more three-week sessions for the 2009 summer season.