AFSOC hosts first "Bring Your Child to Work Day"

News: AFSOC hosts first "Bring Your Child to Work Day"

Air Force Special Operations Command

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Courtesy Story

Staff Sgt. David Salanitri

Joe Englehardt, 5, prepares to enjoy a hamburger with his dad, Maj. Mike Englehardt, Air Force Special Operations Command safety office June 29, 2012, at Hurlburt Field, Fla. AFSOC hosted Bring Your Child to Work Day.

By Rachel Arroyo

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. - Air Force Special Operations Command's quiet professionals opened their doors recently to some pint-sized honorary Air Commandos in the command's first "Bring Your Child to Work Day" held at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

The goal of the event was to simply bring families in, said event organizer Capt. Kristina Sawtelle.

"Everyday we drop our kids off at daycare and kiss them goodbye in the morning," Sawtelle, a mother of three, said. "This event takes the mystery out of what mommy and daddy do."

The honorary Air Commandos got a sense of what it takes to be at the tip of the spear. They began their day with physical training, running a designated 3-mile or 1-mile loop in formation with their family members.

From there, they received visitor badges allowing them access to the headquarters building and a pancake breakfast.

Aniah Brown, 5, said she was excited to learn about what her daddy, a security forces member, does in addition to "putting people in jail."

She added she was most excited to see the planes during the air park tour.

"I want to be a pilot," Brown said with a big smile. "I want to fly jets."

Visitors were split into three age groups that rotated between an AFSOC command brief, an air park tour and a Battlefield Airman exhibit showcasing special tactics gear.

During the command brief, Joe Englehardt, 5, sat next to his father, Maj. Mike Englehardt, in a matching flight suit.

His eyes became wide as his aircraft of choice flashed across the screen.

"My favorite is the gunship," he said, proudly displaying an AFSOC coin he was given for accurately identifying the plane for the group.

Senior Master Sgt. Samel Brown escorted daughter Aniah during the air park tour as she looked at the planes, excited at the prospect of one day being a pilot.

Brown said he was happy to have the opportunity to give his daughter a little insight into what he does when he goes to work.

"I really appreciate that the command takes an interest in the families and makes them a priority."