FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Team Fairchild hosted 17 local teachers on an orientation flight here, August 24, 2021.
The orientation flight kick started the school year and further educated local community leaders on Fairchild’s purpose.
“The presence of Fairchild is strong in our community, but being able to come out here and see how the mission works really surprised me,” said Dave Marlow, West Valley High School math teacher. “I cannot wait for school to start again to show my students the photos I took and share my experience with the Air Force Base.”
The orientation flight aboard one of Fairchild’s 63 KC-135 Stratotankers featured the air refueling of a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon. The educators took photos and interacted with the aircrew to learn more about the mission.
“Having our Airmen interact with the local community, while doing what they’re so great at, provided the educators useful information about what we do here at Fairchild,” said Col. Jeffrey Marshall, 92nd Air Refueling Wing vice commander. “Demonstrating our mission to the teachers first-hand is vital because we’re nothing without our local community.”
Connecting Fairchild Airmen with leaders in the local community through events like this one helps to strengthen overall mission success.
“This flight really was an exceptional stepping stone into future partnerships with our local schools,” Marshall said. “Providing amazing experiences to teachers and students can be so influential, showing them the many opportunities available in the World’s Greatest Air Force.”
This flight is unique because it is the first teacher orientation flight in recent Fairchild history that included kindergarten through 12th grade educators.
“This really was an amazing opportunity to see the professionalism and knowledge these Airmen have, despite their young age,” Marlow said. “This is something that I will never forget and cannot wait to share with people.”