Polish students learn from AF pilots in Poland

Capt. Brett Polage, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot, talks to students from the local high school about the partnerships of the U.S. and Polish air forces, Oct. 22, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. During the community event, Students were able to ask questions about flying and life in America. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Polish students learn from AF pilots in Poland

Capt. Brett Polage, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot, briefs students from the local high school about flying and life as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force during a community relations event, Oct. 22, 2013, Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland. The students are the equivalent to the U.S. Air Force’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Polish students learn from AF pilots in Poland

U.S. Air Force Airmen and students from the local high school pose for a group photo in front of a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft during their visit to Powidz Air Transport Base, Poland, Oct. 22, 2013,. Students were invited to tour the inside of a C-130J Super Hercules. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Hailey Haux)

Polish students learn from AF pilots in Poland

Published Oct. 29, 2013
By Senior Airman Hailey Haux
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

POWIDZ AIR TRANSPORT BASE, Poland -- As a part of the Av-Det 14-1 mission, high school students interacted with U.S. Air Force pilots here during a community relations event Oct. 22.

The U.S. Air Force Aviation Detachment organizes events like this to continue to build upon the enduring partnership between the two nations.

The majority of the students were from a military high school similar to the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program in the United States.

They were first briefed by one of the pilots from the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein about their mission and the daily life of a U.S. Air Force pilot.

"I got the chance to brief the students about the 37th AS, what we do and why we are here," said Capt. Brett Polage, 37th AS pilot. "To be able to talk to the younger people about what we do transcends boundaries. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I am honored to be a part of it."

After the briefing, the students asked Polage an array of questions ranging from how he enjoyed being a pilot to what life is like in America.

"To come here and listen and talk with American (Airmen) has been really fun," said Elizabeth Sorokopas, a Polish high school student. "It was fun because most of us join the military after high school, so getting that interaction was great."

After all questions were answered and group photos were taken, students toured a C-130J Super Hercules to get a hands-on feel for what they could be doing in the future if they decide to join the Polish air force.