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Base hosts Air Force ROTC, Navy Sea, Royal Canadian Air Cadets

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kristian Carter
  • 92nd ARW Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Three groups of cadets descended on the base in a period of three days this past week. 

The cadets, from Detachment 850 at the University of Utah ROTC, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets of the 746th Lightning Hawk Squadron, in British Columbia, Canada, and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, Fort Spokane Battalion, toured multiple facilities on base and gained first-hand knowledge on how an active-duty installation runs. 

The three groups were able to visit and get information about the mission of organizations on base, including the Expeditionary Airmen's Center of Excellence, the Aerospace Physiological Training Flight, the 36th Rescue Flight, the Warrior Dining Facility, the Military Working Dog kennel and the Survival School's Exhibits Lab. 

This was the first visit to Fairchild for the 746th Lightning Hawk Squadron, but not their first time to a U.S. military base. The group has also toured McChord Air Force Base, Fort Lewis, and other military installations in Washington, said Maj. Wayne Heal, 746th Lightning Hawk Squadron commanding officer. 

By visiting a variety of bases, the cadets can broaden their view of the military and gain cultural insight by talking with the people stationed there. 

Warrant Officer 1st Class Brad Rouleau, 746th LHS, said the tours help him to see other aviation bases where he can see the planes and talk to the pilots about their experiences. 

The focus for the cadets from Det. 850 from Utah had more emphasis on allowing the students to gain an idea of what jobs are available and what those jobs entail. 

"For most of the cadets, this is the first time for them to see an active-duty base," said Lt. Col. Kent Wong, commander of ROTC Detachment 850 at the University of Utah. "By going through all of the different organizations, it allows them to see what career fields are out there and help them to decide on a potential career path." 

Cadet Benjamin Quigley, special activities squadron commander for Det. 850, planned the base visit to allow the younger cadets to see an active-duty Air Force base. This type of trip allows the younger cadets to see a base first-hand and get a better idea of what life is like in the Air Force, he said. 

After visiting the base Tuesday, the Canadian Air Cadets visited attractions in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene before heading home Thursday.