Job Shadow Day offers students insight to Air Force mission

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Big smiles, laughter and shouts of "Awesome!" echoed around base April 19, 2013, as children had the opportunity to experience a little of what their parents and other Air Force members do every day to carry out RAF Mildenhall's mission.

Job Shadow Day, an academically-motivating event designed to showcase various U.S. Air Force careers, gave children of service members the opportunity to view the work of many squadrons around base while Team Mildenhall Airmen spoke with the students and showed them a small part of what they do day-to-day.

One of the popular displays was the 100th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog Vvonya, who showed off her talents as she leapt through an open window of a vehicle to bite a "suspect" (played by a 100th SFS Airman), to the sound of applause and shrieks from the students.

"It was pretty cool - I didn't expect her to jump through the window at all," said C.J. Coleman, 13, son of Master Sgt. Corey Coleman, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department. "I think the dog is very athletic, and I definitely wouldn't want to be on her bad side!"

The Airmen demonstrating their jobs seemed to have as good a time as the kids they spoke to.

"The kids have loved it," said Senior Airman Marco Misko, 100th CES Readiness and Emergency Management journeyman from Jacksonville, N.C. "They've enjoyed putting everything on and have been having a blast."

The most popular part of the 100th CES demonstration was when the students got to don chemical suits and gas masks.

"I think they see a lot of that in the movies, so it's kind of cool for them to be able to try everything on," Misko said. "Just seeing the kids' faces whenever they get everything on and get their pictures taken with their families - you can just tell they're (really enjoying it)."

The event was held during the Month of the Military Child and in conjunction with RAF Lakenheath's Job Shadow Day. Between the two bases, 630 participants attended the event. The students were from Department of Defense Dependant Schools, British schools and home-schooled.

Inclement weather meant many of the displays were inside the RAF Mildenhall Fire Department.

"Even though the weather turned out to be quite dreary, the students seemed to be all smiles throughout the day," said 2nd Lt. Joanna Pattugalan, 100th ARW Protocol officer in charge and RAF Mildenhall Job Shadow Day project officer.

The project officer said the day was a huge success, only made possible by the hard work of Team Mildenhall members.

"I'm extremely grateful for the team of organizers and briefers I had for this event; they made the difference for each of the participants for Job Shadow Day," Pattugalan said. "Without their expertise and enthusiasm, this would have been just a day off (from) school. Instead, the students received a wealth of information about each career field, in an engaging and memorable environment."