Fighter Pilots teach STEM

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Omari Bernard
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  More than 100 middle schoolers from Kadena Middle School toured the 18th Operations Support Squadron March 3 to learn how the U.S. Air Force's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math initiative relates to its work force.

Upon arrival, students split into groups and received hands-on classes from fighter pilots, who explained how STEM research applies to the F-15 Eagles and the different ways it empowers the 18th Wing to deliver air superiority throughout the Indo-Asia Pacific Region.

Capt. Davis Camp, 44th Fighter Squadron F-15 pilot, said he hopes the field trip helps inspire young minds to see what can be accomplished through STEM education and encourage children to pursue their dreams.


The classes included lessons about F-15 Eagle history, how radar systems work, and how stealth is able to avoid radar. Pilots also taught Sir Isaac Newton's Three Laws of Motion, how it applies to the F-15 Eagle while in flight, and then gave the students an up-close look at the fighter jets on the flight line.

"Some of the questions the students came up with during the tour were fantastic," said Camp. "It’s awesome to see at such a young age they are able to start to think about really complex subjects.”

After spending the day learning the technical aspects of fighter culture from fighter pilots, the teachers thought the Airmen of the 44th FS had a positive impact on their students.

"This trip was great for our students,” said Patrick Gamez, Kadena Middle School teacher, “It takes everything they learned in their science class and shows them a real-world example of how it is used every day.”