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Moody Airmen mentor USAFA cadets

By Airman 1st Class Jarrod Grammel, 23rd Wing Public Affairs / Published November 10, 2011

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Airmen from the 23rd Wing visited the cadets of Cadet Squadron 9 at the U.S. Air Force Academy Nov. 3 to 7 to provide mentorship and motivation.

Moody is Cadet Squadron 9's sponsor base and conduct visits to the academy and the cadets take tours of Moody for the cadets.

"We learn a lot here but don't get to see much of the operational Air Force," said U.S. Air Force Cadet Stephen Welling, Cadet Squadron 9. "I think it's important to hear about life after the academy, and to see there is a mission going on besides just classes, marching and regulations."

The group of mentors who visited the Academy included enlisted leaders, company grade officers and commanders.

"This is the third time we have been to the Academy," said Maj. Sean Monteiro, 75th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations. "When I was a cadet there we never got anything like this. I think it is great to show them our mission and interact with them. We provided them with an operation perspective from those who have been in the fight."

During the visit, Moody Airmen attended a dinner social with Cadet Squadron 9, lunch with cadets, a question and answer session and a tour of the cadet campus. The trip also included a personnel recovery demonstration and a chance to talk to the rescue teams.

"There are two purposes for our visit to the academy, the first was to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the 23rd WG and highlight our assets to the U.S. Air Force Academy," said Lt. Col Pat Boland, 23rd WG director of staff. "The second was to provide a mentor opportunity to the cadets and provide answers to their questions. There is an ongoing effort to mentor the future leaders of the Air Force.

"We also want to understand the generation gap," he added. "We want to see what they are doing right now and understand their questions and concerns to provide them with answers from current leaders."

Welling is a junior and will apply for jobs in February and said he is currently thinking about a job as an air liaison officer, a combat rescue officer, security forces or cross-commissioning into to U.S. Army.

"The combat rescue officers told us it doesn't get much easier and to never give up," said Welling. "That was reaffirming to hear from young officers."

For cadets at the academy, most of the operational Airmen they encounter are the officers who instruct the classes.

"The only enlisted Airmen we see are master sergeants and above," said Welling. "I was more nervous seeing a senior airman than a colonel because I had never seen one before."

During the visit, Moody Airmen had the chance to see how cadets live and talked to them about life after the academy. Moody Airmen gave them knowledge to help them when they will be asked to make decisions as leaders of the Air Force.