MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Approximately 250 Georgia high school students from six schools in the surrounding areas attended the 336th Recruiting Squadron’s Diversity Day Outreach Fair, Sept. 9, here.
The fair provided students with a chance to interact with Airmen from over 30 different career fields with activities designed to help broaden their career aspirations as they transition into adulthood.
“This event is important because we can get our message out in a mass setting with potential recruits more effectively than a typical school visit or weekend event in a school’s area,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joe Jessup, 336th RCS NCO in charge of Standardization and Training. “By showcasing over 30 career fields for these young men and women to see, we hope they can see themselves wearing the uniform one day.
“[The 336th Recruiting Squadron] is the first and only recruiting squadron in our command to host this type of ordeal, so giving these [potential] recruits this opportunity is a special occasion that most service members can’t say they’ve had,” Jessup added. “The ability to come on a military installation and really get a feel for the service is beneficial,” Jessup added. “We hope our activities will help the students broaden their horizons to weigh their options.”
Students were allotted time at each career field booth to ask questions and view static displays of aircraft and weapons, while also getting hands-on opportunities with specialized gear. Jessup says, all of this was designed to help the students weigh their future options.
Collin Spell, a senior from Brunswick High School, was among the visiting students who utilized the chance to widen their perspective for life after high school.
“Even though I already have a basic training date after high school, I still wanted to see how life was for firefighters on active duty,” said Spell. “It was cool to see how challenging life will be as I got the chance to put on the heavy gear and deal with [various] tools. The ability to ask all the questions I wanted was also a huge benefit. It was a great experience and I’m even more excited about joining the service now to be a firefighter.”
Jessup says this excitement that students have from realizing the Air Force’s opportunities is something the 336th RCS takes pride in providing for potential recruits.
“I came from a small town with little military presence and really didn’t have an idea about the Air Force,” said Jessup. “Seeing these same opportunities from the fair before I joined would have helped my life get started on the right track a lot sooner. I wish I had this chance. Finding your purpose after high school can be a daunting task but the Air Force gave me my stability and purpose.
“Events like these will hopefully help out these young men and women find theirs.”