AF Week Atlanta hosts Drill Team

  • Published
  • By Airman First Class Tim Chacon
  • 11th Wing Public Affairs
ATLANTA, Ga. --  The Drill Team joined with other units during the Air Force Week events at high schools in the greater Atlanta area. AF Week is a series of concentrated mission awareness efforts that showcase to communities across the US what the AF brings to the fight --basically it's one big AF event fair. Throughout the AF's 60th Anniversary year, AF Weeks have taken place in several areas around the country. 

Over three days of performances, the drill team visited around a thousand students and spread the word about the AF mission; and they were met with great response. Maj. (ret) Carlleen Murray, Senior Aerospace Studies Instructor at Lovejoy High School's AFJROTC detachment, said "My students were very excited to see all the activities going on today, especially the drill team. Some of [the cadets] even came in early to see the team warm up, I'm really happy my students were able to see them perform." She went on to say that her students expressed great interest in joining the AF Honor Guard, "The head of our drill team said she wants to incorporate some of the moves that the AF Honor Guard Drill Team does;" laughing, Maj. (ret) Murray added "we'll have to see just what it is that she wants to add!" referring to the difficulty of some of the moves the AF Honor Guard Drill Team performs. 

The high schools students also enjoyed demonstrations from various AF career fields, like Aero-Medical Evacuation, represented by the 94th Aero Evacuation Squadron from Dobbins ARB, who showed the life-saving equipment they use. SSgt David Wade, 94th AES member, said "It is nice to be out here helping leave a positive impression on these high school students and possibly influencing them to join the AF one day," and this is one of the main points of the visits to high schools during AF week. Members from the 94th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron and 99th Security Forces Squadron also demonstrated the tools of their trade to the kids, including the disposal and hand-to-hand defensive techniques they use, and AF Recruiting Service rolled in their major recruiting exhibits: the AF Orange County Chopper, AF Raptor Truck and other displays for the kids to enjoy. Finally, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney McKinley made appearances at the schools, answering questions and encouraging the students to stay focused in school and consider opportunities in the USAF after graduation. 

The drill team concluded their AF Week Atlanta tour with a performance at the opening ceremonies of the Great Georgia Air Show at Falcon Field in Peachtree City, Georgia on October 13, 2007.