Tomorrow's leaders get first-hand look at life after academy

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Cindy Dorfner
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England (USAFENS) --  While most college students enjoy the summer out of school, cadets at the Air Force Academy use their break for a look into the future. Operation Air Force sends groups of cadets to Air Force bases around the world -- even some in the Middle East this year -- to give them a taste of what life will be like when they’re commissioned.

For the past two months, RAFs Mildenhall and Lakenheath have entertained “firsties,” or seniors, and “two degrees,” or juniors, for three-week visits designed to give the cadets a chance to spend some “real quality time with officers in their specific career interests,” according to Capt. Matthew Lillis, RAF Mildenhall Operation Air Force program coordinator.

Although the seniors already know the career field upon which they’ll embark, the visit gives them a chance to spend quality time with officers already in the career field. In fact, for a lot of the seniors, the trip solidifies their decision to choose the Air Force lifestyle, said Cadet 1st Class Beth Jaszczak, a senior and future communications officer.

“I’m so excited to be a part of this (Air Force) community,” said the cadet, who’s originally from Las Vegas. “The past couple of weeks have made the Air Force seem more real. Before, I had a hard time figuring out what I would do each day (as an officer on active duty). Now, I know there’s a lot to it.”

The trip even changed one cadet’s life -- or at least what she wants to do in life. Cadet 1st Class Rachel Johnson, also a senior, has already got what draws a lot of young adults to the academy in the first place -- a pilot slot. After a lot of research and preparation, Cadet Johnson, from Alexandria, Va., decided to try to get into fighters, specifically the F-15.

So, going to RAF Lakenheath for “Ops Air Force” seemed to be the perfect fit for Cadet Johnson. In fact, as what would seem like a deal clincher, she had the opportunity to fly in the backseat of an F-15. But, that’s what changed her mind.

“I just got a feeling that it wasn’t for me,” said Cadet Johnson, who now hopes to fly “heavies” -- either transport or cargo aircraft. “I think I would like the feeling of being part of a crew, rather than an individual. If I do become a pilot, I hope to make it a career.”

Captain Lillis said experiences like these are what Operation Air Force is all about.

“The most important part of this program is giving the cadets a chance to see what happens when they leave the academy and come on active duty,” he said. “Growing USAFA’s cadets into outstanding officers ready to hit the ground running, I think, is one of the key aspects of this program.”

Cadet 1st Class Clay Couch, a future Air Force developmental engineer touring RAF Lakenheath, is one of those cadets ready to hit the ground running.

“Right now, if I could be a lieutenant, I would jump for joy,” he said. “But I know I need to prepare more. I’m going to use this last year in school to set and achieve goals, both academic and military.”

The trip has been “more exciting” than the academy for Cadet Couch, who said you can only learn so much in a training environment.

“This is the real Air Force ... I can’t wait,” he said.

The exposure to Air Force life has also proved important for Cadet 2nd Class Brittney Perkowski, a junior from Orange County, Calif. Prior to her first Ops Air Force trip, she didn’t know if she was going to commit to staying at the academy.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay, but knowing there’s more to it than the Air Force telling me what to do for five more years opens my eyes,” she said, referring to the active-duty service commitment non-pilot graduates incur upon their graduation from the Academy.

“I didn’t know what it would be like to have people work for you who have worked their whole lives, who have so much more experience than you,” she said. “This visit made me realize I’ll really be working for the enlisted folks. They’ll teach me the different aspects of the Air Force, about my job.”

Though Cadet Perkowski, along with the other juniors, doesn’t yet know the career field in which she’ll be working, she’s no longer hesitant about the future.

“This has been a great help to understand what it means to be an officer,” she said.