NATO AIR BASE GEILENKIRCHEN, Germany - Twenty-one students from schools in the local area visited the E-3A Component here April 25, 2013.
The visit was part of the Germany-wide Girls’ and Boys’ Day, which was created to give young individuals a backstage look into technical professions.
After the welcome by the chief of staff, Col. Werner Nemetschek, and an introduction briefing, the students had a chance to visit component members who work in various sections like air traffic control, weather, flight planning, firefighting, medical and deployment training.
“The program for this year's visit was coordinated with the focus on introducing the youngsters to as many different career fields in the component as possible,” explained Capt. Mario Di Virgilio.
The students also had the opportunity to interact with airmen and women of other nations such as the U.S. and Turkey to get an impression of what it’s like to work in an international environment.
“Without the help of female soldiers from various other nations accompanying the girls and reporting about their experiences in mostly male dominated career fields, the day would not have been as successful,” Capt. Di Virgilio said.
The event was rewarding for Component members as well.
“Participating in the [Girls’ and Boys’ Day tour] was an amazing experience for me in two very different ways,” explained Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pearce, an evaluator surveillance operator at the component and Statesville, N.C., native.
“Personally, it was nice to spend time with German youth learning about their career paths and how they make very big decisions about what they want to do with their lives at 13 to 15 years old while we have a large number of American college students who have no idea,” Sgt. Pearce added. “Professionally, it was so nice to see that even in the current political climate, with worldwide austerity and budget struggles, that the youth are still positive about, and interested in the jobs we are doing and the NATO mission. Overall, it renewed my pride in my job!”
For more information about Girls’ and Boys’ Day, log onto http://www.girls-day.de/Girls_Day_Info/English_Information.