Academy cadets shadow active-duty mentors during summer visit to Mildenhall

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric Petosky
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Sixteen U.S. Air Force Academy cadets are visiting RAF Mildenhall as part of Operation Air Force, a three-week mentorship course designed to give firsthand experience for the Air Force's future leaders. 

Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors are the only cadets eligible to take advantage of the opportunity, according to Capt. Eric Fryar, 100th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment commander, and they are given a series of goals to meet while here. 

"This program is designed to take cadets out of the classroom and put them side by side with the regular Air Force," said Capt. Fryar, one of two program coordinators for Mildenhall. "Cadets get the opportunity to learn about different career fields and shadow officers currently serving in those fields." 

Sophomores focus mainly on the working relationship between enlisted Airmen and officers, and must even be signed off on an enlisted core training task in whichever unit they've been assigned. They must complete a mentoring session with a chief master sergeant and first sergeant during their visit as well. 

Juniors shadow officers in the operations and support groups to give them a larger breadth of knowledge of the Air Force specialties available to them. They too must complete mentoring sessions, but with squadron commanders and director of operations or their equivalents. 

Since seniors have already selected a specialty, they are specifically matched with active-duty officers currently serving within that specialty under a traditional shadow program. Three mentoring sessions are required, specifically with field grade officers in their chosen specialty. 

This is the third summer visit to a base for Cadet 1st Class Tyron Gary, a senior due to graduate in May. He will be a navigator once he becomes a second lieutenant, although he is number 12 on a waiting list for a pilot position. Since earning wings also incurs a 10-year service commitment, the visit is invaluable in his career choices. 

"At the academy, you really don't think much about what you'll be doing," said the 21-year-old Memphis, Tenn., native. "But then you get to a base, and it's a real wake-up call. We've been here a week and a half, and just watching the day-to-day operations in the flying squadron is truly eye opening." 

Cadet Gray was able to take part in an air refueling mission aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker with the 351st Air Refueling Squadron. He was joined by Cadet 2nd Class Addison Gentry, a 21-year-old from Roseville, Calif. Both cadets said the experience made them want to fly for the Air Force that much more. 

"This program really works," said Cadet Gentry. "Last week I was in the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and this week I'm with the 100th Operations Group. The experience has made me more confident in my career goals. I want to be a pilot. I don't have any preferences on air frame - I just want to be in the fight." 

The cadets will return to Colorado Springs, Colo., in mid-July. They are the second of three groups of cadets scheduled to visit RAF Mildenhall throughout the summer.