Month of the Military Child kicks off with career day

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Gilbert
  • Det. 10, Air Force News Agency
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNEWS) --  A fourth grader raises his hand, his face is beaming, and asks a firefighter, "What do you do?" This was one scene as Yokota Air Base residents kicked off the Department of Defense's 21st Month of the Military Child celebration here March 30 with a career day.

The career day showed children they are important and gave them hands-on experience and knowledge about the opportunities out there, said Djuna Underwood, a West Elementary School counselor.

"It provides the children with an opportunity to interact with the community members and also to get an idea of different jobs out there and what they need to do in school to prepare themselves for what they want to be when they grow up," the counselor said.

Some elementary school students are already thinking of careers.

"I will probably be an athlete, but maybe an Air Force firefighter," said Elijah Noel, a fourth grade student at West Elementary. "I would like to join the Air Force because you get to help people and that makes you a better person."

The event featured a wide variety of careers, from base firefighters to DOD civilians.

"It's important for kids to see that there is more to military careers than just enlisted and officer, but that there is civilian too," said Dolores Magallanes, Yokota AB's commissary manager. "My job is just as important as a firefighter's, because without me families would go hungry."

For more information on activities honoring military children during April visit http://www.monthofthemilitarychild.com/ .