BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from more than 100 schools visited Barksdale June 9, to learn about Air Force careers.

Tables representing various careers lined Hoban Hall as cadets rotated around the room talking with career field experts and getting hands-on experience with Air Force equipment. The goal of the event was to give cadets a greater understanding of Air Force careers and culture.

"JROTC career day gives cadets the opportunity to come out to an active-duty base and actually see all the different career fields in the Air Force," said Capt. David Pabst, 11th Bomb Squadron, B-52H Stratofortress electronic warfare officer and 2nd Bomb Wing point of contact for the event. "They see the commercials on television, but it's hard to get an idea of what we actually do just by seeing those commercials. Here they get to speak with the experts in career fields and see if the Air Force is something they want to pursue."

Captain Pabst said the event can be an important factor in the consideration of post-high school paths for some of the cadets.

"Many high school students don't know what exactly they are going to do with their lives once high school ends. However, when they experience something like this, they get a better idea of what the military is like," he said. "We want them to see that they can come into the Air Force, get their school paid for, get the training they need and then after they've completed their service easily transfer to the civilian sector - it really opens their eyes to what is out there."

While many of the cadets took serious consideration of a career in the Air Force, many others, like cadet Tech. Sgt. Dustin Todd from Bossier High School, spent the day simply enjoying information presented about the mission.

"It was a lot of fun to see all the military stuff today, the Airmen who work here really know what they're doing," he said. "I'd have to say that the hazardous materials display was my favorite, because they actually show you how the system works and they tell you how they take care of everyone by checking the level of chlorine in the water. It was really cool."

The cadets were not the only ones to take something away from the event; the Airmen who hosted booths benefitted also.

"I think the Airmen benefit a lot from this event, because it gives them the opportunity to be recruiters," said Captain Pabst. "Our leadership tells us all the time, and I believe it - we have the best Airmen in the Air Force and this is a great opportunity for them to mentor and influence the rising generation - the future warriors of the Air Force."

Tech. Sgt. Brian Lubiejewski, 2nd Maintenance Squadron engine specialist, enjoyed the opportunity to educate future Airmen and share his own experiences.

"A lot of these kids come here completely uninformed," he said. "When they think 'B-52' they just think about pilots, so this helps to break it down for them and they can see how many jobs it takes to make our planes fly. They asked a lot of questions, and I told them a few of my war stories, sharing that with them gives me a sense of pride because I love my job."

"We do our jobs every day, but when we actually have the opportunity to sit and talk about what we do, it's a great experience, and we can only hope the cadets get as much out of it as we do," concluded Captain Pabst.