First Lt. Grant Saum, 333rd Fighter Squadron student pilot, puts his arms around his parents, Joe and Wanda Saum, during the squadron's Basic Course 09-CBE Red Carpet Day at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 5, 2010. Saum is one of 24 students who completed the nine-month pilot and weapon systems officer B-Course. Students and guests played with the simulators, tried on night vision goggles, toured the air traffic control tower and viewed F-15E Strike Eagle static displays. The Saum's are from Findlay, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters)

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333rd FS hosts Red Carpet Day

Three F-15E Strike Eagles taxi down the runway as part of the 333rd Fighter Squadron Basic Course 09-CBE Red Carpet Day at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 5, 2010. Twenty-four student pilots and weapon systems officers escorted family members and friends around the base, showing them what a typical day in the nine-month B-course consisted of. The students graduated during a ceremony at Walnut Creek Country Club in Goldsboro, N.C., March 6. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters)

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333rd FS hosts Red Carpet Day

First Lt. Mike Malone, 333rd Fighter Squadron student pilot, hands outs plaques to instructors who stood out throughout the course during the squadron's Basic Course 09-CBE Red Carpet Day lunch at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 5, 2010. The B-Course curriculum consisted of academics, simulators and flight training which involved all aspects of the F-15E mission. Students started with basic flying maneuvers and steadily ramped-up to more challenging air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters)

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333rd FS hosts Red Carpet Day

First Lt. Justin Andress, 333rd Fighter Squadron student weapon systems officer, pours crawfish onto a table during the squadron's Basic Course 09-CBE Red Carpet Day lunch at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 5, 2010. More than 100 family member and friends participated in the Red Carpet Day events. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters)

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333rd FS hosts Red Carpet Day

Lt. Col. Gabriel Green, 333rd Fighter Squadron commander and his wife, Jan, enjoy the crawfish cooked during the squadron's Basic Course 09-CBE Red Carpet Day lunch at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., March 5, 2010. Green welcomed more than 100 family members and friends to begin the day's activities. The squadron is the largest formal training unit in Air Combat Command and is the longest of four courses conducted at the 333rd Fighter Squadron. The other three courses include instructor, transition, and senior officer checkout. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters)

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333rd FS hosts Red Carpet Day

First Lt. Justin Andress, 333rd Fighter Squadron student weapon systems officer, explains to his parents, David and Myra Andress, the procedures he conducts during a weapons preflight inspection. Andress graduated from the nine-month Basic Course, along with 23 other pilots and WSOs, during a ceremony at the Walnut Creek Country Club in Goldsboro, N.C., March 6. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters)

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333rd FS hosts Red Carpet Day

Published March 10, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Twenty four 09-CBE Basic Course students escorted more than 100 family members and friends around Seymour Johnson Air Force Base during a Red Carpet Day March 5. The students offered a brief glimpse into what a typical day was like for them during the nine-month course.

The day started with a light breakfast, followed by welcoming remarks from Lt. Col. Gabriel Green, 333rd Fighter Squadron commander.

"Our purpose is to train the best pilots and weapon systems officers in the Air Force," Green said. "I want to thank you for raising your sons and daughters for the character they have to serve our nation the way they are. They couldn't have done it without you, I know that it is definitely a family effort."

Following the commander's comments, a course instructor gave a quick overview of what the students, 12 pilots and 12 weapon systems officers, experienced during the course. Everyone then went to the end of the runway to watch F-15E Strike Eagles take-off. The students and guests divided into four groups for the remainder of the day to visit simulators, try on night vision goggles, tour the air traffic control tower and view F-15E static displays. The students graduated from training status during a ceremony at Walnut Creek Country Club in Goldsboro, N.C., March 6.