Students blast off with STARBASE Published Sept. 24, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Department of Defense's educational program, STARBASE, is "making tomorrow happen today" here with fifth-and sixth-grade students from all across North Dakota and Eastern Montana. The primary goal of the program is not to get students interested in the military, but to increase the students' interest in math, science, technology, personal development, and drug awareness and prevention through hands-on activities. Students participating in the program receive 20 to 25 hours of stimulating experiences in the core skill areas of math and science at National Guard, Marine, Air Force Reserve and Air Force bases across the nation. "Dreams plus action equal reality," said Matthew Balas, director of STARBASE in North Dakota. "It is truly amazing to see how Team Minot, from the base to the surrounding communities, has really embraced the positive aspects of the program." STARBASE here on Minot AFB is located at North Plains Elementary School. The program has four classrooms designed to "harness the power of the mind through hands-on, minds-on learning and development," Mr. Balas said, whose office is here on base. "The whole point of the program is to motivate the kids to apply what they learn in the classroom to the real-world environment," he added. This marks the first year STARBASE is implemented here. Overall, students in the program are bused from their school to the base everyday for a week. The day starts at 9:15 a.m. and ends at 2:15 p.m., and STARBASE staff work closely with the students' schools to coordinate when they are released for the program. Once students arrive on-site, the program emphasizes the importance of respect for their teachers as well as their classmates as the number one rule. Respect is important, since team-building and goal-setting are main-stays of the program. A favorite activity for STARBASE students is the computer-aided drafting software paired with a three-dimensional printer, which creates plastic models of the objects students create with the software. "The students are first taught the basics of the system and how it works," Mr. Balas said. "We then let them explore the software. It is phenomenal what the students can do with it and what they create." Another choice activity is the flight-simulation software. Students have the opportunity to fly an aircraft with all the regular functions of a real-life aircraft. From rudder controls to brake pedals, the simulation software students are provided is as realistic as actually being in the cockpit. "I am always amazed by how quickly these students learn the controls and successfully fly the planes," added Mr. Balas. In addition, STARBASE students tour a multitude of facilities across the base to see what life is like in the Air Force. "The kids visit places like the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron's explosive ordnance disposal and fire protection flight," said Staff Sgt. Cory Smith, 5th Bomb Wing public affairs community relations officer. "They also get to tour the 23rd Bomb Squadron's B-52s, the 54th Helicopter Squadron and 91st Missile Wing's launch facility trainer at Uniform One." "These are just a few of the tours the kids get to experience," Sergeant Smith added. STARBASE is scheduled to conduct 31 classes this year. Classes, which began Sept. 2, will run through May 19, 2009. For more information about the STARBASE program, log on to: http://www.starbasedod.com or call 727-3320.