Falcon Soldiers host Lakeside High School Air Force JROTC

By Spc. Scott LindblomMarch 28, 2016

Falcon Soldiers host Lakeside High School Air Force JROTC
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Morgen Dennis, Operations Support Squadron Commander, AFJROTC, Lakeside High School speaks to Sgt. Frank Mccandless, flight medic, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade in a HH-60M Blackhawk Helicopter during a ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Falcon Soldiers host Lakeside High School Air Force JROTC
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Ryan Pepin, aviation life support equipment tech, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade show aviators life support gear to cadets from Lakeside High School Air Force JROTC during a visit to Hunter Army Airf... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga.— Air Force JROTC cadets from Lakeside High School in Atlanta, Georgia visited Hunter Army Airfield March 24.

Falcon Soldiers and aviators from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade put their aircraft, equipment, and weapons on display allowing the cadets to get an up-close experience with Army Aviation.

Master Sgt. Stan Parker, Aerospace Science Instructor Noncommissioned Officer, Lakeside Air Force JROTC expressed his desire that this trip will encourage his cadets to do better and be better students and citizens in general.

"After coming to HAAF and seeing what is available these cadets could start to think, hey maybe I should strive to get that A in class. Had I had this same opportunity when I was a young JROTC cadet it might have stricken more passion in me. I am just hoping that with us setting up a trip like this that we could strike that passion in them," Parker said.

Cadets made several stops around the base to visit the facilities along with the chance to sit shoulder to shoulder with 3rd CAB Soldiers for lunch at the on post dining facility. The day included a visit to the Engagement Skills Trainer to virtually fire weapons as well as visiting the airfield.

Morgen Dennis, Operations Support Squadron Commander, Air Force JROTC, Lakeside High School has been with the unit for three years.

"I was really excited about getting able to see the Blackhawk a little closer, but also I am really excited about the rifle range," Dennis said. "I definitely think that it inspires some of the first year cadets as to what it is actually like. It's really interesting to observe the Army."

Aviators that man the HH-60M Blackhawk Helicopter and AH-64D Apache Helicopter opened their aircraft doors to let cadets climb in and ask questions about Army aviation and the daily life of an aviator.

Reid Remsey, cadet, Lakeside Air Force JROTC is in the 9th grade and in his first year with the JROTC.

"I have flown a plane before in the civil air patrol," Remsey said. "Now I am looking to get my helicopter license. I think this is pretty awesome. It is the coolest thing,"

The EST was the last stop for the cadets on HAAF but their weekend was only beginning. Rounding out the experience of modern Army Aviation, cadets stepped back to the Air Force past with at trip to the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum.

RELATED STORIES