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Airman 1st Class Ryker Rowland and Senior Airman Dylan Craig, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Airmen from the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron, display drone capabilities during the STEMtober event at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Florida, Oct. 21, 2021. The Airmen were invited to the event to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics students various ways on how their education and training can be applied outside of a classroom setting and benefit the Air Force’s Total Force Initiative. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hiram Martinez)

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U.S. Air Force Col. Cheryl Lockhart, 6th Medical Group chief nurse, places a virtual reality headset on a student during the STEMtober event at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Florida, Oct. 21, 2021. Airmen from the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight, 6th Communications Squadron and 6th Medical Group attended the event as part of MacDill’s Airman Inspired Mentorship Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hiram Martinez)

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U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Brice Tucker, the officer in charge of communications focal point from the 6th Communications Squadron, teaches a student about computer programs during the STEMtober event at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Florida, Oct. 21, 2021. Airmen from the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight, 6th Communications Squadron and 6th Medical Group attended the event as part of MacDill’s Airman Inspired Mentorship Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hiram Martinez)

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Explosive Ordnance Disposal Airmen from the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron display drone capabilities during the STEMtober event at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Florida, Oct. 21, 2021. The Airmen were invited to the event to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics students various ways on how their education and training can be applied outside of a classroom setting and benefit the Air Force’s Total Force Initiative. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Hiram Martinez)

MacDill AIM wing supports STEMtober at MOSI

Published Oct. 28, 2021
By Airman 1st Class Hiram Martinez
6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --

Three units from the 6th Air Refueling Wing attended the STEMtober event hosted by the Museum of Science and Industry Oct. 21, 2021, in Tampa, Florida, to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students about STEM careers in the Air Force.

STEMtober is an annual event where Hillsborough County Public School (HCPS) students explore different career opportunities within the STEM field.

“Having events like these are extremely important,” said Nicole Tuminella, a HCPS resource teacher coordinating the event. “It allows the students to see how what they’re learning in the classroom is used.”

Airmen from the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight, 6th Communications Squadron and 6th Medical Group attended the event as part of MacDill’s Airman Inspired Mentorship wing.

“The main goal of the AIM program is to inspire the students in our communities to be a part of the Air Force when they grow up,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Bargiel, lead point of contact for the AIM wing. “By having our Airmen here in person, the students are able to interact in ways that aren’t always available in the classroom.”

Each group of Airmen had a booth with different presentations and activities for the students to participate in ranging from a virtual reality medical simulator to a tactical EOD robot.

The students actively participated, asked questions, took pictures, and tested gear and equipment brought by Team MacDill.

“The Airmen that we’re seeing out here today have a desire to teach,” said Bargiel. “Their interactions are having an impact on these students and their future. We want them to see the potential and possibilities that these career fields have.”

Bargiel added that even if the students don’t enlist in the future, these events still benefit the Air Force’s Total Force initiative.

“These very same students may be working for future companies that may one day have an innovative product that will help the Air Force break through barriers,” said Bargiel. “The goal is to develop mentors of the future, Airmen and future STEM civilians and keep that relationship going to make our Air Force better.”