MARINE CORPS STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Smiles erupted on the faces of approximately 40 station children as they piled out of the bus ready for the second Annual Airfield Tour here Aug 25.
More than 40 station children with the School Age Care center here were given the opportunity to tour the airfield Aug. 25 to learn about the different jobs Marines conduct on the airfield.
Children were split up into groups and toured Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting facilities, the weather and flight clearance room, the terminal radar approach control room and the air traffic control tower.
Children received a hands-on learning experience as they explored ARFF vehicles, turned on sirens, put on ARFF gear, and got a view from the ATC tower.
They were given the opportunity to experience some of the things firefighters do and were able to practice with the water hose and shoot cones.
“I learned about how the fire trucks spray water,” said Paden White, 8-year-old. “My favorite part was the (ATC) tower. We used binoculars to look at the whole station.”
This is the second year the tour has been conducted and Gunnery Sgt. Shane Smoger, coordinator for the event hopes it will become a permanent tour children can take every year.
“(The tour) was a unique opportunity for kids to see how their parents play important roles in the military and have fun while doing it,” said Smoger.
Through this tour, children were shown many of the different working parts that make the airfield function.
“I think it’s very important that children see what keeps the airfield operational, and I wanted the kids to have fun,” said Smoger.
SAC personnel also agreed the tour was a valuable learning experience for the children. Brittany Miller, SAC program assistant and event coordinator, said the tour opened the children’s eyes to occupational fields they may consider in the future.
The SAC center is an after school program, which operates part of the summer coordinating events and tours to keep children entertained while learning.
“Everything we did this year was on base,” said Miller. “Throughout the week, the kids visited several different units and learned about their jobs.”
The SAC center runs throughout the school year on a space available basis.
Anyone interested in signing up their child can go directly to the center or call 253-6675.