Student's interest in math, science soars with STARBASE

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  After spending a week immersed in the technical and flashy sides of math and science, a group of area students became the 21st class to graduate the base's Science and Technology Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Exploration program June 25.

The rising fifth graders who participated in the program spent their mornings in a classroom studying topics like Bernoulli's principles of flight and Newton's laws of motion. In the afternoon, they traveled to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base to see the topics they learned in action.

"The program is successful because it is structured and crammed full of activities, yet it is fun," said Janie Best, 4th Force Support Squadron Force Development chief. "Students do so many hands-on activities that they do not have time to get bored. The classroom learning is much more effective when the students are able to see the principles they've studied applied to the day-to-day operations of Seymour Johnson AFB."

Several Airmen and civilians from the base hosted STARBASE students in their duty sections. This allowed students to learn about military working dogs, try on aircrew life support equipment, and more.

"Most everything they do on base they are actually using the exact equipment or facilities that we use," said Maj. Chris Crotty, 4th Fighter Wing military STARBASE representative and 4th Training Squadron instructor division chief. "The things they might see for instance are wing life support where they actually get to try on our gear and hang from a virtual parachute trainer. Where they will actually parachute down and try to and land in a certain area. They will train exactly how we train."

Not all of the children who participated in the program had a parent serving at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base or even in the military. John Davis, is the son of JoAnn and Lee Davis, residents of Goldsboro. His favorite part of STARBASE was the using the flight and parachute simulators.

"We got in the cockpit and we had a little stick we could move around and when we did the parachute simulator we (put) a vest on (that) hooked up to strings you would pull to make yourselves go this way or that way," John said.

The students had a variety of reasons they decided to participate in the program.

"I was looking forward to STARBASE for something to do for the summer and would help me get a head start on school for next year," said Savian Proctor, son of Staff Sgt. Marco Proctor, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron structural journeyman.

The elements of STARBASE John enjoyed the most was not launching the rocket he buit or even seeing the military working dogs in action.

"I enjoyed getting to know more friends and all of the people that you meet," he said. "It was very fun."

The enrollment period for STARBASE runs from February to March; however, the STARBASE directors keep a waiting list from year to year. Best the base's program recruiter can assist those interested in placing their child on the waiting list. For more information, call her at 919-722-5810.