Base tour program aids in AF recruiting

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Terri Barriere
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  For high school students, a field trip is a day away from school - no classes, no work and few teachers. However, for students enrolled in Junior and Reserve Officer Training Courses a field trip may help them make a decision that could ultimately determine the course of their future.

The Air Force Global Strike Command base tour program is a part of the 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office's community outreach program, and is designed as a recruiting tool for eligible high school and college students in the local area considering military service as a career path.

Though the base tour program belongs to the Public Affairs office, tours are essentially a base-run program and successful due to the supporting organizations.

A typical one-day base tour consists of any combination of the following: a military working dog demonstration, explosive ordnance disposal flight tour, dormitory tour, air traffic control tower tour, static displays, 8th Air Force museum tour, Security Forces weapons demonstration, fire station tour, Base Exchange visit and lunch at the Red River Dining Facility.

Staff Sgt. Daniel Craig, 2nd Security Forces Squadron MWD trainer and frequent tour supporter, said he enjoys working with the tour program and believes it's an effective recruitment tool because it gives those considering the military a view at other jobs most people don't even know are an option.

"A lot of people see the cops, but don't know about us," he said.

The MWD demo is the most requested stop on the tour, and Sergeant Craig attributes that mostly due to people's natural love of animals.

"Most people love dogs, it's human nature," he said. "I think it's also the thrill of the chase -- the kids love to watch the simulated bad guy get taken down. Aside from the size, I also think many of the kids are surprised at how well trained the dogs are and how much they can do."

Another frequent tour stop is the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight. On this leg of the tour, students are briefed about the duties of an EOD technician and invited to view simulated explosive devices, try on a bomb suit and test drive the ordnance disposal robot.

Master Sgt. James Martin, EOD superintendent and frequent briefer, said he knows that EOD is a frequent favorite with the tours because of the flight's attraction to the younger generation.

"We provide realistic training aids that mimic realistic threats," he said. "The tools we use are very attractive to younger kids because they like bombs and robots. We use this as a good recruiting opportunity, because when they come in, now they may know what they want to do -- and as I tell them, they may be the future of our career field."

Base tours are a mandatory part of the JROTC/ROTC curriculum, and give students who otherwise may have never seen a military installation an up-close and personal view of military life.

"The tours give students a chance to see other career options," said Col. (ret) Don Coleman, senior aerospace science instructor for Marshall High School JROTC. "Only about eight percent of our students go on to go to college and most graduate with no clue as to what they want to do with their life. But the tours show them the military as another option, and as a result, we usually put five to eight students a year into one of the military services."

The instructor said a lot of his students have a misconception about the military, and think that everyone spends their day marching around like basic training, and don't understand that the military is a career, and for the most part they [military members] get to go to work, go home and have normal lives.

For one student on a recent tour, the field trip to the base was the deciding factor in her decision to enlist.

"I like trips like this to the base because they make me really want to join the Air Force after graduation," said 16-year-old Dusti Martin. "I've always known I wanted to join the Air Force but coming on these field trips helped me pick out a job ...I want to be in EOD!"

The high school junior said she thinks the tours are really beneficial to helping students who might be on the fence about joining the military.

For more information on scheduling a tour or to volunteer to host a tour contact the 2 BW/PA office at 456-5502.