Rays Rookies tour MacDill

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tori Schultz
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  For the past seven years, rookies from the Tampa Bay Rays have visited MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, to gain a better understanding of the teamwork that goes into accomplishing the base's mission and helps build bolster community relations.

This year on Jan. 12, 2016, the rookies visited the military working dog handlers, explosive ordnance disposal technicians, and air traffic controllers.

The MWD handlers began the tour with a demonstration of the obedience and training the dogs have developed since they were pups. The tour continued with a showcase of the equipment used to protect the handlers and the dogs during training and concluded with a walk through the kennels.

"I enjoyed the military dog demonstrations and seeing what they are capable of and comparing them to a domestic dog," said Tampa Bay Rays Rookie Ryne Stanek, who had previously attended a base tour in 2015.

The rookies viewed a display of various non-active bombs and equipment used to defuse such bombs in real-world situations during the EOD portion of their visit. Many of the rookies tried on the bomb suit helmet and one Rookie donned the entire suit.

Additionally, the rookies were given a bird's eye view of MacDill's flightline and surrounding cities, such as St. Petersburg, Florida, in the ATC tower, which stands approximately 138 feet high.

To complete their base tour, an ATC Airman demonstrated the use of the ATC simulator that replicates MacDill's flightline, which is used during training.

"Teamwork and cohesiveness are two essential qualities for success in both the baseball and military arena," said Alex Zampier assistant for International and Minor League Operations for the Tampa Bay Rays. "Giving our young players a snapshot of a completely different career path and how different ranks, departments and people work together within the military community is a valuable lesson."