Operation Air Force familiarizes cadets with Gunfighter mission

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samantha S. Crane
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Out of the classroom and into the operational world, 47 ROTC cadets will be at Mountain Home Air Force Base to work side-by-side with active-duty Airmen from around the base to gain first-hand knowledge of the Air Force.

The Operation Air Force program gives these future leaders a chance to shadow officers and noncommissioned officers - members these cadets will serve with after earning their commissions.

From June 1 to Aug. 2, the cadets will visit different squadrons, participate in mentor programs and work just like any other troop on base. They will also participate in an explosive ordnance disposal demonstration, a field training exercise with the 726th Air Control Squadron and visit the Mountain Home Range Complex at Saylor Creek Bombing Range to see how the base fits into the Air Force mission.

"It gives them a perspective of what the real Air Force is going to be like," said Maj. Joseph DiFidi, 366th Operations Support Squadron's and the wing's Operation Air Force project officer.

The program breaks down into three parts to cater to the different grade levels of the cadets. Two of the three programs are represented here.

Sophomores join the "non comm." course, 44 of this year's cadets fall into this category, to get the Air Force perspective shadowing different senior NCOs from the base. The three-week emersion helps them learn about the career fields the Air Force has to offer while the enlisted mentors teach the cadets about their respective jobs. The students are also taught and signed off on a job-related task similar to the procedures used to certify junior enlisted members undergoing upgrade training.

This training also focuses on enhancing the cadets' knowledge and appreciation of enlisted roles, responsibilities and expectations and provides insight into various aspects of the enlisted culture, according to the major.

"It's an eye opener for us ... seeing what it's really like; seeing the real Air Force," said Cadet John Lockwood, a sophomore with the Air Force Academy who attended the program last year. "Experiences like this allow us a chance to see Air Force life from a different perspective."

Meanwhile, ROTC seniors join the "brevet lieutenant" course, three cadets are in this category, to learn and participate in the career they will join the following year. This Operation Air Force program prepares these cadets for the duties they assume as a new lieutenant by providing first-hand experience in their assigned career field, the major added. As part of this immersion, the cadets stay with the same mentor throughout the three weeks.

"The whole point is to give them exposure [to their job]," said Major DiFidi. "We will get a new group every three weeks for nine weeks."

Mountain Home AFB, along with most bases Air Force-wide, participate in Operation Air Force each summer, depending on mission needs and limitations. This year, the Gunfighters will take in three groups with an average of 15 cadets per group.