ARLINGTON, Texas -- Students at the University of Texas at Arlington had the opportunity to learn more about air power Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, during the first Texas Christian University Air Force ROTC Detachment 845 Airpower Symposium held at the University Center on campus.
The goals of the symposium, according to Capt. Anthony Simmons, Det. 845 Operations Flight Commander, are “to educate students on the air, space, and cyberspace industry and to show them ways to get involved.”
The location of the symposium was key to increasing student awareness about AFROTC opportunities.
“We held the Airpower Symposium over at UTA because we wanted to increase our presence there,” Simmons said. “Though TCU is our host university, we also have a crosstown agreement with UTA. In fact, just over half of our current cadets are actually UTA students. We want more UTA students to be aware of Air Force ROTC as an option for them.”
Students learned about air, space, and cyberspace industries by visiting booths and listening to guest speakers from participating companies and organizations, including Lockheed Martin, NASA, the FBI, and the Air Force.
Four members of the 301st Aircrew Flight Equipment from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas educated symposium visitors as well.
“We were requested to showcase the equipment to the next generation of potential fighter pilots,” Tech. Sgt. Rudy Pannaci, a 301 AFE technician said. “AFE maintains all of the equipment a pilot needs to survive and perform their mission.”
Items on display, included a helmet, parachute, anti g-suit, and a harness, among other items served as conversation starters for attendees.
“We're building bridges through the community relations program, Pannaci said. “It's an opportunity for our unit to educate the community about the Air Force Reserve and one of its missions.”
Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Kevin Pottinger, a Fort Worth Air Power Foundation board of directors member and military advisor for the Fort Worth Air Power Council, participated in the symposium along with some of his counterparts.
“The Fort Worth Air Power Council helped bring some of the businesses in here like Lockheed Martin or Elbit Systems," he said. “See all the different interactions going on out here with companies and students. I think it’s been a real success for the first time.”