96th Air Refueling Squadron hosts UH ROTC cadets

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  Nearly 20 U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets from the University of Hawaii on Oahuat Manoa got a first-hand glimpse into the 96th Air Refueling Squadron's mission as they witnessed a 154th ARS KC-135 Stratotanker manned by a 96th ARS aircrew refuel a C-17 Globemaster III in flight here May 4.

Before their flight, Tthe cadets received a mission brief from Lt. Col. Brian Hill, 96th ARS commander, before their flight to explain the importance of air refueling in the Pacific theater. Afterward, they toured the squadron's facility while their guide, Capt. Rick Brown, 96th ARS chief of safety, spoke to them about the squadron's history as well as the capabilities of the KC-135.

"In three or four years we're going to be commissioned offenders," said Valerie Sasa, a cadet from U.S. Air Force ROTC Ddetachment 175. "We would like to see what every job does and how it benefits the U.S. Air Force."

Sasa hasn't yet chosen which career field she will pursue in the Air Force, but plans to use her experience with the 96th ARS as an opportunity to broaden the scope of potential jobs she could pursue.

According to Capt. Jonathan Navarra, operations officer for detachment 175, this "incentive" flight gave the cadets a chance to experience the operational Air Force outside their normal classroom setting.

"They always hear [(the instructors]) talk about the Air Force," he said. "This gives them an opportunity to see and touch the things that we talk about. They can see all the other things that go into being successful in the Air Force. Things like situational awareness, attention to detail, taking care of your people, they can see it culminate when they go to a flying squadron...this give them a tangible experience."

Brown said that, Aalong with giving the cadets a glance at the refueling mission itself, it is also important to show future leaders of the Air Force the skill and enthusiasm 96th ARS employs to conduct its mission, said Brown.

"These guys are going to be carrying on the legacy we put forth for them," he said. "It's good to show them not only how well we do our job but the pride we put into our jobs also."

An additional benefit of seeing the 96th ARS mission, says Brown, is the total force integration the squadron displays with the 203rd ARS - an experience that will serve them well when they commission.

"It's important to explain to them how we work with the guard and how important it is to our mission here. We take a lot of pride in what we do and the fact that we do it so well."
Sasa said she was also impressed with some of the physical attributes the KC-135 pilots used to operate the aircraft.

"There's a lot of buttons in the flight deck," she said. "A lot of them look like they're really hard to reach. I think you have to have really long arms to be a pilot."

While Sasa admits she may not have the same lengthy arms the pilots had, it doesn't necessarily disqualify KC-135 pilot from her career field choices.

"I don't have long arms," she said. "But I could find a way to make it work."