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Children experience Air Force careers during Air Force Week Sacramento

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates
  • Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
SACRAMENTO, Calif. --  Students from a local middle school here were able to experience some of the sights and sounds of the Air Force Sept. 10 during an aerospace career day at the Discovery Museum of Sacramento.

The event was part of Air Force Week Sacramento, a weeklong event designed to highlight the Air Force's people, equipment and mission throughout the local community.
The children, sixth- and seventh-grade students from Arcade Middle School, visited several stations throughout the museum's grounds and talked to representatives of various Air Force career fields.

Among these career stations were firefighters, aeromedical evacuation personnel, an explosive ordnance disposal team from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and a team from Beale AFB, Calif., talking about the equipment and mission of U-2 "Dragon Lady" high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft.

For the students, the experience was both educational and exciting.

"It's cool to see what people do in the Air Force," said Kasey King, an eighth grader.

The event was also enjoyable for the Airmen who got to talk to the kids.

"It was really fun interacting with the young adults," said Senior Airman Natalie Valle, a U-2 suit technician with the 9th Physiological Support Squadron at Beale AFB. "We get to show these kids what we do and maybe impact their decision to join the Air Force someday."

Remaining events taking place during Air Force Week Sacramento include a concert by country music star Aaron Tippin and demonstrations by the United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team.

The week culminates with the California Capitol Air Show at Mather Airport Sept. 12 and 13. The air show will feature the Air Force's premiere aerial demonstration team, Thunderbirds, both days.

For more information and recent updates, visit the Air Force Week Web site at www.airforceweek.af.mil or call the Travis AFB public affairs office at (707) 424-2011.