Reservist For A Day: Kids from Tampa Children's Home experience life in the Reserves

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing
MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. --  Every child is there for a different reason, but they all have something in common. For whatever reason, the children in the Tampa Children's Home couldn't stay with their families. During a visit to MacDill Air Force Base on March 21, 14 of those children were able to join a different kind of family. As part of the 'Reservist For A Day' program, children from the Tampa Children's Home each spent the day with a reservist from the 927th Air Refueling Wing.

"They're normal kids, no different from any other," said Travenski Lawson, who works in primary support with the Children's Home. Surrounded by the children smiling and interacting with the reservists, the Palm Beach County, Fla., native added, "It's rare for anybody to smile ... so when they do, you appreciate it."

Smiles were a common sight during the childrens' day-long visit. It started with a brief by the public affairs officer and Col. David Pavey, the commander of the 927th ARW.

"You may not realize this, but this is your Air Force," Colonel Pavey said. He added that whether the children decided to make a career out of the Air Force or not, they should learn all they could about it. Their lesson would start with each child pairing up with a member of the unit.

Their first stop would be an airplane hangar, where the children each donned flak vests and helmets. Once in their battle gear, they were given a brief on four of the most common weapons Airmen use: two machine guns, an M-4 rifle and a shotgun. Although the students were not allowed to handle the weapons, they were allowed to ask questions about what situations would call for the use of each weapon and made aware that all firearms are inherently dangerous. From there, the reservists painted the childrens' faces with camouflage paint and made dog tags for each child. A Humvee vehicle was driven into the hangar for the children to explore, while outside, a cargo lifting truck demonstration was underway; giving the children a sense of the variety of vehicles involved in accomplishing the Air Force mission. No explanation of the Air Force mission would be complete without a tour of an airplane, of course.

The final stop on the tour was a KC-135 tanker aircraft. The children were allowed to walk around the plane with the maintenance crew that keeps these decades-old planes running. They explored the outside of the plane, then boarded the aircraft and spoke with the pilots and boom operator about how the plane refuels other jets in the air. Many were amazed that the particular aircraft they were exploring was made in 1960, decades before any of them were born.

"I thought today was going to be really boring, but now I can't wait for what's next!" said a member of the Children's Home, whose name is being withheld for the child's protection. The 17-year-old added "Today was a really fun experience, everyone should try it. We'd be playing video games if we were at the Children's Home, but instead we're out here."

The day ended with a stop at the base bowling alley, where the reservists treated their 'reservist' to lunch and a round of bowling. At the end of the game, an award was given to the child with the highest bowling score.

As the children departed the base, the reservists had a chance to reflect on the time they were able to spend with each child.

"If I can touch one person positively in my lifetime, I've done a good job," said Senior Master Sgt. James Candler, a member of the 927th Force Support Squadron. Sergeant Candler studied social work, and knows the challenges faced by children placed outside their families. "I want each of these kids to leave today with the idea that 'It's not as bad as I thought it was.'"

The passion each reservist had for kids was evident: 21 members of the unit signed up immediately, allowing more sponsors than there were chidren to pair them with. Children and reservists had the opportunity throughout the day to share their stories and a few even made plans to get together in the future.

Sergeant Candler, like all the reservists with the 927th ARW, has overcome challenges in life to make a career out of serving his country. If there was one thing he hopes the children take away from their visit, it was this:

"I hope they leave with the attitude that 'If they can do it, so can I.'"