AF Academy cadets take trial run at Aviano

  • Published
  • By Cadet Kathleen Vardell
  • Air Force Academy
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Eight U.S. Air Force Academy cadets recently visited Aviano Air Base, Italy, as part of Operation Air Force, a program designed to give cadets operational Air Force experience.

Instead of taking a summer break as students would at a civilian university, Air Force Academy cadets participate in summer programs to improve their military experience and knowledge. In OAF, juniors and seniors spend nearly three weeks at an Air Force base to shadow active-duty members in various career fields to learn about the operational Air Force.

"It's a chance to get out of our bubble at the academy and experience the real Air Force," said Cadet Sarah Dugan, whose favorite part of OAF was meeting enlisted Airmen and seeing them perform their jobs, which cadets do not often experience at the Academy.

The most recent group to visit Aviano spent time with Airmen and observed surgeries, organized events, accompanied security patrols and watched munitions loading procedures, among other career field specific tasks.

This program also provides an opportunity for the cadets to decide what job they want after graduation.

"Watching the nurses and [medical technicians] interact with their patients and seeing their passion for their job made me want to pursue a job in that field," said Cadet Chloe Lyon, whose first work assignment was with the 31st Medical Group.

During the immersion, cadets already set on their career choice gained further insight into how the operational Air Force works. Cadet James Neat hopes to become a pilot, but still appreciated the experience.

"I don't know if it will influence my job choice, but it definitely gave me a deeper respect for other [Air Force Specialty Codes]" said Neat. "It was a good chance to see how different aspects of the Air Force come together to accomplish a mission and how those divisions have mutual respect."

Many cadets will also receive incentive flights in the F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to Aviano.

"Our facilitators are working hard to get all of us incentive flights which we know is a valuable experience," Neat said. "I appreciated the opportunity to see firsthand from the cockpit what the Air Force can do when all of the career fields work together."

While at a base, the cadets were also required to attend three mentoring sessions with operations and support officers, and a senior NCO.

"Mentoring sessions have been helpful because each officer has a different perspective," said Cadet Rachel Allison.

Cadets at bases around the world participating in OAF are gaining their own perspectives and getting an overall bigger picture of the Air Force.