Scouting out the Hercules

Staff Sgt. Daniel Haynes, a loadmaster with the 118th Airlift Squadron, adjusts an aviation helmet on Cub Scout Blake Kamoen, 8, during a base tour at Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby, Conn., Aug. 4, 2014. Haynes later said that tours like these are part of the reason he joined the Air Force. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Mead/Released)

Scouting out the Hercules

Maj. Kevin Eikleberry, pilot for the 118th Airlift Squadron, explains the various functions of the C-130H aircraft controls to a very intent Anthony Maio, 9, as Blake Kamoen, 8, listens in. Behind Eikleberry in the co-pilot seat is Tristan Schemmerling, 8. All three of the children are part of Cub Scout Troop 18 and came to the Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Conn., Aug. 4, 2014, to take a tour of the unit’s recently assigned aircraft. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Mead/Released)

Scouting out the Hercules

Master Sgt. Elcian Torres, loadmaster with the 118th Airlift Squadron, talks to a very interested crowd of Cub Scouts, parents and siblings during a tour of the a C-130H Hercules aircraft recently assigned to the 103rd Airlift Wing, at Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Conn., Aug. 4, 2014. In the forefront is Addison Duquette, 11, and her mother Jodi Stupakevich. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Mead/Released)

Scouting out the Hercules

Maj. Bryon Turner, public affairs officer with the 103rd Airlift Wing, leads a group of Cub Scouts out to a C-130H Hercules aircraft on the flightline at Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Conn., Aug. 4, 2014. The Cub Scouts were able to climb into the cockpit of the aircraft and don some equipment used by the loadmasters. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Mead/Released)

Scouting out the Hercules

Published Aug. 5, 2014
By Tech. Sgt. Joshua Mead
103rd Airlift Wing, Public Affairs

BRADLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE - East Granby, Conn. -- Cub Scouts from Troop 18 in Killingworth, Connecticut arrived at Bradley Air Nation Guard Base in East Granby, Connecticut for a special tour of a C-130H Hercules aircraft, assigned to the 103rd Airlift Wing, on Aug. 4, 2014. The small troop of approximately ten children was allowed a unique opportunity to walk out to the flightline and see firsthand the unit's new mission.

"It's good when anyone comes out. We enjoy doing this," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Haynes a loadmaster with the 118th Airlift Squadron.

These types of tours are a way for the 103rd Airlift Wing to showcase the new mission and let the civilian world experience the day-to-day operations of the military.

"I know when I was a kid, and not-knowing about the Air Force, it was nice to come and see things," said Haynes. "That's partly why I'm here today."

The tour of the C-130H included a chance to sit in the pilots' seats and the opportunity to put on aviation helmets and loadmaster harnesses to see what it's like to be a loadmaster. These harnesses are used by the loadmasters to secure them within the aircraft when pushing pallets of equipment and supplies out of the cargo bay during air drops.

Kurt Schemmerling, a parent with Troop 18, coordinated the event and said that he thinks doing events involving aviation, or with the fire departments and police departments, is important and influential for the kids.

In an anecdote, Schemmerling explained why he is so passionate about getting kids involved in hands-on tours. He recounted a story that was told to him when he asked an older gentleman from his community, "Why did you decide to become a pilot?"

The response, said Schemmerling, was, "I'm a pilot today because somebody took the opportunity to bring in a helicopter to my school back in 1950 and I never forgot it. I was eight years old and from that day forward I wanted to do nothing else but go in the military and become a pilot."

It is important for the youth to realize that there are opportunities out there in aviation and the best way to do that is through exposing them to those different things, said Schemmerling.