Academy cadets deploy, experience expeditionary life

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

work day-in and day-out to get the mission accomplished, but they're truly an inspiration."This glimpse of what cadets refer to as the "real" Air Force is meant to develop these future officers and help them determine which career fields to put on their preference sheets. Their immersion included everything from civil engineering to communications, medical to equipment management, maintenance to operations."It's awesome to get them out here and in the environment we work," said Staff Sgt. Samuel Martinez, a 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator deployed from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. "This program gives them the insight they need to figure out what they want to do in the Air Force."Despite sweat, sand, wind and heat, the cadets shadowed officers, senior and junior NCOs, gaining insight, inspiration and a bit of humiliation important to their Air Force careers."This experience is very motivational for them as it gives them a glimpse at what they'll be doing in a few years," said Maymi.