JROTC Expo

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kaylee Clark
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Team Little Rock agencies showed nearly 300 high school students Air Force career opportunities at the 2014 Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp Expo April 17.

The Junior ROTC students from high schools from as far away as Missouri to Louisiana spent the day experiencing life as Air Force members.
The day included security forces K-9 team demonstrations, night vision goggle demos, explosive ordnance disposal robots, bioenvironmental suits and chemical warfare gear fittings, a fitness challenge at the health and wellness center and a tour through Airman dormitories. The students also got to tour the inside of the air traffic control tower and interact with the aircrew inside of a C-130.

Cabot High School senior Emily Everetts said, "...(I)learned about the different jobs the military branches offer and what people go through to do their job."

Lt. Col. Eric Wittendorfer, 19th Operation Support Squadron commander, began the day by explaining Tem Little Rock mission and encouraging the students to enjoy the day's events.

"This day is about you, ask a lot of questions and enjoy the day," said Wittendorfer.
Every available agency, squadron, group and wing supported the event.

"The purpose of the expo is to teach the students our mission, how Airmen support our mission, and how the programs support our Airmen," said Capt. Matthew Wilson, the JROTC expo coordinator.

Representatives from the sexual-assault and prevention response office, TRICARE, the base education center and resiliency training were set up in hangar 233 for the students to learn about programs that help Airmen through off-duty life.

"We want to show them the real military not what they see in the movies and on television," said Wilson.