Servicemembers mentor thousands of local students

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ned T. Johnston
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. --  Airmen stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, and Coastguardsmen with the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida, came together to mentor school-aged children for the 2nd Annual Great American Teach-In -- Tour Across Pinellas Nov. 18, 2015.

The Great American Teach-In is part of Pinellas County Schools' annual education week celebration, and it was created to introduce students to career options they might never have considered. Pinellas County invited servicemembers to their schools to share stories and stress the importance of education with school-age students.

The group of 20 servicemembers traveled to 16 schools reaching 160 classrooms and more than 3,200 students answering questions and sharing their personal Air Force or Coast Guard stories.

"It's important for us to take time out of our busy schedules to share our stories," said Staff Sgt. Adam Borgman, a photojournalist with the 927th Air Refueling Wing public affairs office and the event's lead coordinator. "We owe it to the public and especially to these students, tomorrow's leaders, to let them know about the amazing opportunity that we have to serve our country."

The group didn't just share their stories of service; they also stressed the importance of continuing education.

"The military teaches you that you're never done learning," explained Airman 1st Class Brad Tipton, a broadcast journalist with the 6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs office and a volunteer with the event. "That's a great model to go by both inside and out of the military. Twelfth grade isn't the end, and neither is a four-year degree. The military has shown me that knowledge is power, and if nothing else that's what I want to stress to the students today."

After nine hours of mentoring and public speaking, Borgman shared his thoughts on how the volunteers benefited from the day too.

"Every time we walked into a classroom, the students were happy to see us, and they immediately wanted to thank us for our service and hear what we had to say," Borgman said. "It was a reminder of why I love my job, and I can't wait for next year's event."