Laughlin cops travel to San Antonio for high school visit

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
SAN ANTONIO, Texas --  Five members of the 47th Security Forces Squadron stepped outside their jurisdiction Dec. 15 and went back to school for a round of "show and tell."

The group was invited to O'Connor High School in San Antonio after the 47th SFS donated all their desert combat uniforms to the school's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment. The brand-new detachment's commander asked the cops to come out to show off some of their equipment and answer questions about their job.

"It was our intent to showcase the United States Air Force and, specifically, Security Forces to young people who may be contemplating joining the Air Force when they graduate," said 1st Lt. Eric Stevens, 47th SFS.

The group, which included three noncommissioned officers and two officers, including the squadron commander, Maj. Kris Zhea, set out several examples of equipment employed by security forces personnel, including night-vision goggles, weapon mock-ups and restraint devices. They also wore some of the various uniforms of Air Force Security Forces, from bike patrol and a sniper's concealment suit to the relatively new Airman Battle Uniform and blues.

"It offered a great opportunity to demonstrate how we operate without them having the pressure of walking into a recruiter's office," the lieutenant said. "We were in their comfort zone and they chose to come up and talk with us and handle some of our gear."

Staff Sgt. Rob Culbertson, who displayed the unit's bicycle patrol uniform on the trip, said the whole experience was outstanding.

"The students and faculty were very receptive and asked a lot of good questions about what we do in the Air Force," he said. The sergeant explained the benefit of talking face-to-face with students who are at a critical decision-making period of their lives.

"It gave each one of us the opportunity to talk about something specific we have been trained for along with our regular duties as security forces members," he said. "I really enjoyed talking with the students about what I do in the Air Force and it was the perfect opportunity to show them we are more than a military at war."

Sergeant Culbertson and the other members at the school took the opportunity to explain the peacetime roles of security forces, such as bike patrol, Combat Arms Training and Maintenance, Emergency Services and Special Reactions Teams.

Lieutenant Stevens said the trip had not only a profound impact on the students, but him as well.

"I felt pretty proud to represent the military to these high schoolers," he said. "Many of them have preconceptions about us and what we do in the Air Force, so I was proud to teach them about the true ground-combat mission of security forces.

"The students were so curious and into what we were showing them it made me realize just how cool or job really is, and the responsibility we have to do it right," he continued. "I would do it again in a heartbeat."