Northwestern Middle School students embrace the 434th ARW mission

More than 40 eighth grade students and their staff from Kokomo Indiana’s Northwestern Middle School went hands-on, indulging in Grissom’s mission and culture during a tour of the base March 21, 2018.

The group started their tour at the 434th Operations Support Squadron before being shown around a KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft by crew chiefs, pilots and boom operators.

While at the 434^th OSS Aircrew Flight Equipment section, students learned about lifesaving equipment aboard the KC-135s and the care and maintenance required to keep equipment functional.

“The kids really enjoyed trying the food, sitting in the rafts and blowing up the life vests,” said Rachele Temme, a teacher at Northwestern Middle School. “We really enjoyed how the [Airmen] that were employed by the base interacted with us; you could tell they like their jobs.”

Following Temme’s sentiment, Senior Master Sgt. Mike Pershing, 434th OSS AFE Superintendent, agreed that his Airmen enjoyed speaking about what they do for a variety of reasons.

“The Airmen here love their job, but they know that one day the future of this base depends on our ability to fill the ranks that fall under us,” said Pershing. “These tours give them an opportunity to educate visitors on what we do and how what we do affects the mission, potentially saving lives if needed.

“The experience visitors receive allows them to make a decision about the Air Force based on personal knowledge rather than from what they see on a TV screen or hear from other people,” he added.   

After their AFE tour, students split into three groups to see a KC-135 refueling tanker from a perspective unlike the view most see from outside the gate. ­­­­