The program’s objective is to provide cadets with a greater understanding of different Air Force missions and the multitude of career paths available.
Leading the Wright-Patt investment in these cadets’ futures is Lt. Col. Karen Kramer, the 88th Aerospace Medicine Squadron’s Public Health flight commander. She and Master Sgt. Sabrina Lukas, 88th Security Forces Squadron, are overseeing cadets’ schedules, work activities, logistics, lodging, volunteer efforts and immersion in Air Force life while at the base. They have hosted three separate groups of approximately 20 academy cadets each this summer, with the current group of cadets at Wright-Patt July 16 through Aug. 1. They also hosted a group of ROTC cadets in May.
The academy cadets visited a wide range of units across the 88th Air Base Wing as well spending time at the 445th Airlift Wing, Air Force Institute of Technology, Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center.
“They are being immersed in every area that I can possibly squeeze into two weeks,” said Kramer. “Many of them want to be pilots but not all. So why not introduce them to NASIC, Security Forces, AFIT, the 88th Force Support Squadron or Legal. These are all areas they could be an officer at in two years.”
For the cadets, this summer program is the one time they can concentrate their full attention on any single task. Cadet schedules normally involve 18 semester hours of classes, mandatory marching, mandatory intramural or extramural sports, duties in their respective cadet squadrons and a range of leadership training and character development activities. But on their visit to Wright-Patterson, their focus is singular – learning more about the Air Force they hope to earn a commission in.
“It’s been a really incredible,” said Cadet Christian Burgoyne, Cadet Squadron 35. “I never imagined that the operational Air Force functions, and this TDY (temporary duty) gave me a really good glimpse into how it works and a look into some really cool jobs that I might be able to put on my dream list one way.”
One particularly memorable portion of Burgoyne’s Wright-Patt experience was a visit to NASIC.
“That was mind-blowing,” he said. “I always had a back-thought to be an intelligence officer and this visit just confirmed for me that it is a really cool job, and the things they do are really impactful and meaningful to the entire military. It broadened my vision from just pilot. At first, I only wanted to be a pilot. But since I came here, it’s opened my mind to looking at different career fields.”
Future Air Force jobs was not the only focus of the cadets’ visit, said Cadet Adam Jewell of Cadet Squadron 28.
“We’ve learned more about how to be a good lieutenant and a good leader coming into a new squadron and fresh out of commissioning and graduating. That’s been a primary focus for us so far, as opposed to career field-specific training or shadowing so far,” Jewell said.
The cadets got the chance to focus on leadership perspectives by meeting a wide range of personnel from across the base, including focus groups of first sergeants, chiefs, squadron commanders and Col. Thomas Sherman, the 88th Air Base Wing commander and a fellow academy graduate.
“It was awesome having the Q&As with Colonel Sherman,” said Jewell. “It was nice being able to talk with him and learn a little more about leadership and our Air Force.”
Later this year, each cadet will submit his or her list of top six preferred Air Force specialty codes to serve in. The cadets will learn their post-graduation AFSC during their senior year.
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