Liberators educate, inspire local students

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kat Justen
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Members of the 459th Air Refueling Wing volunteered at the 11th annual Virginia Department of Transportation Career Fair at Prince William County Fair Grounds to educate and inspire local high school students about transportation careers with the 459th Oct. 8, 2015.

More than 1,300 high school students from the local area came out learn about job opportunities in the transportation career field.

"The purpose of this event is to provide information for students to understand how various disciplines can result in careers in the transportation industries," said Carolyn M. Wolcott, Virginia MegaProjects civil rights program manager. "The event focuses on 10th-12th grades when their futures begin to be a discussion point."

The 459th illustrated their unique role in the industry with on-hand personnel and static displays to educate students about aerial refueling and aeromedical transport missions onboard the unit's KC-135R Stratotankers.

"We have a mannequin hooked up with various medical devices including a HeartStart defibrillator," said Tech. Sgt. Carl Stewart II, 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron evacuation technician. "It's an attention getter. When you have a mannequin it gets them over and interested." As a aeromedical evacuation technician, Stewart and his unit is responsible for the movement and care of urgent, priority and routine patients onboard the KC-135R aircraft.

Technical Sgt. Matt Oberlin, 756th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, was also on hand to discuss his role as an inflight refueling technician. Working from a boom pod, a windowed space in the tail section of a KC-135R, Oberlin's job is to control the boom arm which maneuvers to the aircraft being refueled and then deposits the fuel.

"I thought the boom operator was really cool," said Shelby Sternberg, a student at Monroe High School. "I've always been interested in serving and the Air Force seems the way I want to go."

Overall, the 459th's display and discussions with students helped them to better shape their goals and aspirations for the future.

"I wasn't sure of what I wanted to do," said Sternberg. "This has helped me clear the air and figure out where I will belong."