U.S. Air Force Academy cadets visit the 917th Wing

by 917th Wing Public Affairs

A small number of Air Force Academy cadets are spending three weeks of their summer at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, learning about their future Air Force life from the inside. They are involved in a summer program called Operations Air Force, where cadets are "randomly chosen to integrate into Air Force bases" around the world. One of the goals of the program is for the cadets to experience the Total Force Integration. The group of cadets also visited the 93rd Bomb Squadron where they were briefed on similar activities concerning the B-52 Stratofortress.

The following pictures were taken on June 15, 2009.



Cadets Tony Onitsuka and John Kuconis (from left) get take a close look at the 30mm Gatling gun on an A-10 Thunderbolt II at the A-10 Hangar. Cadet Onitsuka is from Ewa Beach, Hawaii and is part of the Class of 2011. Cadet Kuconis calls Boston, Massachusets, home and is part of the Class of 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston) Hi-res



Master Sgt. Carl Whitaker, 917th Operations Support Flight, aircrew flight equipment technician, briefs U.S. Air Force Academy cadets about A-10 Thunderbolt II egress procedures during their visit to the 47th Fighter Squadron at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston) Hi-res



Tech. Sgt. Andre Menard, 917th Operations Support Flight, aircrew flight equipment technician, assists Cadet Stephen Vrabic, in the life support egress trainer at the 47th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston) Hi-res



U.S. Air Force Academy cadets look on as their classmate Cadet Stephen Vrabic, receives firsthand experience in the life support egress trainer at the 47th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston) Hi-res



U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Stephen Vrabic demonstrates the donning of an anti-G suit for his fellow cadets during a visit to the 47th Fighter Squadron. The G-suit, as it is also called, inflates around vital areas of the body such as the abdomen and thighs to hold blood in place to keep a pilot from blacking out or losing consciousness during flight. Cadet Vrabic, who is from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is part of the Class of 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston) Hi-res