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USAFA "Fightin' Fourth" visits JBPHH

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii --  Cadets from the "Fightin' Fourth," or Fourth Cadet Squadron from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., visited Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on a 15th Wing-sponsored trip March 21-25 to experience a week of education and relaxation.

The squadron, which recently changed their sponsor unit to the 15th WG, toured various agencies around the wing as Airmen here took time out of their schedules to support the tour.

Cadet 2nd Class Samuel Rinaldi said the goal of the visit was to give the cadets an idea of what the operational Air Force looks like.

"Monday we got a tour of different (Air Force Specialty Codes)," he said. "We got to see intel and hang out with the maintenance guys for a little bit. We saw some of the jobs that are done in the Air Force and what we might expect once we graduate."

Cadet Rinaldi, who aspires to become a C-17 Globemaster III pilot, said other firsts for the group included getting to tour a C-17 Operations building and seeing the F-22 Raptor for the first time.

Capt. Jon Baize, a pilot with the 535th Airlift Squadron, facilitated a C-17 flight for some of the cadets, many of whom want to be C-17 pilots. In light of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the sortie was tailored to simulate a humanitarian relief airdrop mission. The aircrew flew in a tactical low-level position with the cargo compartment open for part of the mission. Additionally, the crew simulated several equipment and personnel airdrops. Finally, each cadet was able to experience a "visual approach" from the flight deck at Kona International Airport.

Captain Baize said tours like these are important for the educational process of the cadets as they conclude their time at the academy and enter the operational Air Force.

"It lets the cadets see an active-duty operational life," he said. "The Air Force Academy is a very structured and closed environment, and as a cadet you can start to get a skewed view of how the Air Force is run. Operational base visits and orientation flights remind the cadets what the end goal is after their hard work at the academy."

Cadet Rinaldi said that while he enjoyed all the new and interesting things he'd seen during his visit, his favorite part of his spring break on Oahu did not occur on the base.

"I loved being able to relax on the beach," he said. "This is our spring break, so we've gotten to have a lot of time to ourselves while here."