News Headlines

WTOK Mobile Site >> News Headlines

Send Air Force Recruits Get Their Feet Wet

All fields are required

Back to Home

Air Force Recruits Get Their Feet Wet

Posted: 8:27 PM Jun 2, 2012
Reporter: Chip Scarborough

Air Force Recruits Get Their Feet Wet

Hundreds gathered at Northeast Park in Meridian for a special military recruiting exercise. Recruits and their families were invited to see what the Air Force has to offer and to learn more about what it takes to serve our country.

Air Force officials conducted some basic training exercises to give recruits an idea of what their first day of training will be like. Organizers also say it's important for recruits to know that their hard work and dedication is appreciated.

Air Force Lt. Col. Jim Palumbo said, "It's more than just doing the job. We really take care of each other. We're wingmen for each other. We wanted to have an opportunity for folks to get together and socialize; get to know each other."

Air Force Sgt. Rodney Fortner said, "And we got all the new applicants that's coming into the Air Force along with the families, and we're really excited to have everybody out here and to be able to feed them and take them through some training and do some team building events with them and show them what we do appreciate their service they are about to do for their country."

Now that those recruits have raised their right hand and agreed to enlist, they will be shipped off to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas over the next few weeks and months for basic training. Two former basic training instructors were on hand.

Palumbo said, "To give them a little bit of the experience of what they are going to face there when they go to basic training for the Air Force, so again about 15-20 minutes of the real world, what they're going to face there."

Air Force Sgt. Mike Buetler said, "You know, we've got a lot of different opportunities - special operations, things like that - so we're trying to spread the word out here.

For more information about the Air Force, you can visit the local Air Force office on Bonita Lakes Circle in Meridian or visit www.airforce.com.