Academy Cadets experience Ops AF

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  First, picture yourself walking along Bomber Boulevard, when you spot a 'slick sleeve' ahead. You think nothing of it, assuming the person is an Airman Basic, until you spot metal glistening on the Airman's lapels. Your back stiffens and your hands become cupped as you prepare to salute what now looks like an officer, but you are confused and wonder why there is hard rank on this officer's battle dress uniform.

As you walk by the supposed officer, with the perfect salute of a seasoned veteran, you notice the hard rank is unlike any you have seen before. Still confused and bemuddled, you go about your business wondering if you'll ever attain the answer to this puzzle.

In the next couple weeks, slick sleeves and hard ranks will be a normal occurrence at Minot AFB. Cadets from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., will be here for a summer of opportunity, learning what life is like in the operational Air Force.

The Operation Air Force Third Lieutenant course provides AF Academy juniors an opportunity to gain valuable experience in a real-world environment. This training is focused on enhancing cadets' knowledge and appreciation for the roles and interactions of operations and support units. The program also aims to increase their appreciation for various jobs at AF bases around the world and to enhance their decision-making ability with regard to their career-field choices.

"I think this program is a really great way to see what the operational Air Force is like," said Cadet 3rd Class Michael Templer. "We get to help real Airmen do their jobs and gain valuable experience along the way."

The overall objectives of the Ops AF Third Lieutenant program are to enhance cadet understanding of how operations and support functions work together to accomplish a wing's mission and provide cadets with hands-on experience performing company grade officer duties in both operations and support units.

One group of cadets learned mission essential techniques June 16 in the 5th Maintenance Squadron such as the necessity of riveting aircraft panels at the sheet metal and fabrication flight.

Another group learned the "ins-and-outs" of the B-52H Stratofortress at the flight's inspection section that same day. They had the opportunity to see the engines un-mounted, inside the bomb bay doors, a bird's eye view of the cockpit and navigation panel and a look at the plethora of instruments in the nose of the B-52.

"As a cadet, you don't get out and see how the real stuff works," said Cadet 2nd Class Blake Horrell. "This program is an eye-opening experience for me. As a cadet, I get to come here and see what Airmen actually do in the operational Air Force."

The cadets are not the only beneficiaries of the program. Airmen with lower visibility jobs get to showcase their role in the mission to the Air Force's future leaders.

"I think it is pretty awesome they get to come out here and actually learn how to be a maintenance officer and see how the active Air Force works," said Senior Airman Aaron Reed, 5th Maintenance Squadron, structural aircraft maintainer.

The cadets arrived at Minot AFB on June 1 and are expected to be here through July 11.

Last week the cadets had a tour of the 54th Helicopter Squadron and next week they are scheduled to visit the Launch Facility Trainer at the 91st Space Wing to continue their total Team Minot experience.

[Editors note: AFA cadets are not commissioned officers and likewise are not required to be saluted (AFPAM 26-2241, pg. 152, para. 7.30.5.2).]