Ops Air Force provides opportunity, experience

  • Published
  • By Cadet Caleb Powell and Cadet Courtney Swaney
  • Ops Air Force cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo., --  Thirteen U.S. Air Force Academy cadets are visiting Whiteman for one of their summer programs from June 23 to July 11 to gain hands-on experience in the operational and support missions of the Air Force. 

This is the second of three groups to come here during the summer. The cadets are shadowing both NCOs and commissioned officers in career fields ranging from B-2 pilots to logistics readiness in the "Operation Air Force" program, also known as "Ops Air Force." 

"Ops Air Force is an excellent opportunity for cadets to experience daily operations on an active-duty air force base. The experience is designed to better prepare themselves as future junior officers while exposing them to various officer and enlisted career fields," said Maj. Craig Mockler, Ops Air Force officer in charge at Whiteman. 

Besides attending work with facilitators in their future career fields, the cadets are participating in several activities, such as a tour of the A-10, the B-2 and receiving incentive rides in the T-38. 

"It was awesome to go from looking at pictures of a cockpit to actually sitting in one and seeing it up close," said Cadet Travis Whittemore, a rising senior from the academy.
Although it is not a second vacation for the cadets, ops still provides fun and enriching opportunities to show what lies on the other side of the long blue line. 

"I am really excited to have the opportunity to learn more about Whiteman and the Air Force while gaining insight about active duty life," Cadet Leah Hutchison said. "The program's focus on leadership and mentoring is preparing me for future officership in a hands-on way."