Cadets visit the "Lik" Published June 4, 2007 By 2nd Lt. Eddy Gutierrez INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Like many officers on base, I received my commission through Reserve Officer Training Corps, while others commission through the Air Force Academy. Throughout our college years we were known as cadets. We were seen as the "Future Leaders of the Air Force." I really wasn't exposed to what the active duty Air Force was like as a cadet, so when I arrived on active duty much of Air Force life was new to me. During my time here, I learned a lot of what the Air Force has to offer, and I wanted to make sure those who follow in my footsteps would be better prepared when they pin on their second lieutenant bars. What better way to do so than to support the Operation Air Force Program, designed specifically to teach cadets to learn about Air Force operations. The 39th Air Base Wing will have the honor of sponsoring six cadets during the first period of OAF, which lasts from June 3-23. OAF is designed to provide both USAFA and AFROTC cadets experience in the operational Air Force while focusing on different areas of cadet development. There are four courses in which the cadets can participate in: Non-Comm, Third Lieutenant, Brevet Lieutenant, and Brevet Lieutenant Deployed. Each program is designed either to shadow a senior non-commissioned officer, company grade officer, or field grade officer in an Air Force Specialty Code of their choice depending on the program they are assigned to. As a facilitator, we play many roles simultaneously--leader, mentor, organizer and teacher to name a few. There will be many activities planned for the cadets during their stay with us. Please feel free to interact and share your experiences, lessons learned and answer any questions that the cadets my have. We all remember how new everything seemed to us the first day we entered the active duty Air Force, so let's do our best to make it a memorable experience for the cadets. Each cadet has been assigned a unit point of contact who they will shadow during the duty day to gain knowledge in that career field. They will also be assigned a project by their unit POC to experience the workload they may be faced with as a CGO. Moreover, we will have the chance to shape tomorrow's Air Force officers. We would like to welcome the following first period cadets: Cadet: Lauren Wilson, Texas - Contracting Squadron Cadet Kari Thomas, Fla. - Medical Group/Services Squadron Cadet Nicholas Thome, Minn. - Intelligence Cadet Joy M. Lomheim, Okla. - Airfield Operations/Maintenance Cadet Milli A. Mays, Colo. - Civil Engineering Squadron/Security Forces Squadron Cadet David Blessinger, Colo. - Airfield Operations/Civil Engineering If you have any questions, would like to show your support, or are interested in participating in any of the OAF activities, contact 2nd Lt. Eddy Gutierrez 676-6788, or Capt. Jill Boese 676-3895.