Moody, VSU sign first of kind partnership

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ryan Callaghan
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Moody Air Force Base and Valdosta State University formalized a mutually-beneficial internship program, the first such partnership between an Air Force installation and a university, here, March 6.

As per the agreement signed by U.S. Air Force Col. Chad Franks, 23d Wing commander, and Dr. William McKinney, VSU president, Moody will host two seniors from VSU's athletic-training program each academic semester to work as interns with the 23d Medical Group, a partnership formed as part of the Air Force community partnership initiative. During their internship, the students will be working with 'warrior athletes', highly active, tactical Airmen, from many career fields across Moody.

"What this partnership does is allows us to take senior students from Valdosta State's athletic-training department and embed them along with our physical-therapy instructors and these warrior athletes and work to make them run faster, jump higher, and do everything that our nation calls them to do, better" said Col. Paul Gardetto, 23d MDG commander.

Col. Samuel Milam, 93d Air Ground Operations Wing commander, agreed with Gardetto and further outlined the impact these students will have on the 93d AGOW.

"We're going to enhance the team with these young men and women right here." He said. "[Our Airmen are] going to have better access to the therapy and the treatment they need to get back to doing their job. That means increased availability, allowing us increased readiness and increased mission capability. It's going to be hugely beneficial."

Milam also claims that as an added benefit, youth in the local community will get to learn about some of the impressive things Moody's Airmen do every day.

Sean Amos, a VSU senior participating in the program and currently working at Moody, has been an intern on base for several months and says it has been a wonderful experience so far.

"This is exciting because we're working with tactical athletes and they are a lot different than the college and high school athletes we would normally be working with," he said. "It's another opportunity for us to see a different environment where we could work with our degrees and broaden our experience for our future careers."

Prior to signing the agreement, McKinney took a moment to explain the weight of the partnership and its benefits to both Moody and VSU.

"This particular relationship is something very, very special," he said. "The opportunity for our students and faculty to work with these young men and women who serve our country so well not only serves [the Airmen] and helps to keep their bodies in top condition but is a great opportunity for our students and faculty to learn and to get a bit of insight into what goes on here at Moody Air Force Base."

Franks wrapped up the meeting by speaking on the influence this arrangement will have not only on Moody Air Force Base, but also the local community that supports it.

"Today is a significant event for Team Moody and our participation in the Air Force community partnership [P4] initiative" he said. "When Moody was chosen as one of 16 installations to participate in this initiative, I knew we were going to be able to do great things because of our local community, and I think today demonstrates we were right."

"When we look out over the long term this is going to benefit not only our battlefield Airmen, but also the students who participate in the program from VSU," Franks said. It further strengthens the bond we have with our local community, which is second to none."