Courtesy Photo | A.J. Allmendinger, NASCAR driver for the Air Force-sponsored #43 car, speaks to an...... read more read more
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - A.J. Allmendinger, NASCAR driver for the Air Force-sponsored #43 car, toured Randolph and Lackland Air Force Bases April 6 as part of the Air Force Recruiting Service’s “Dip into the Blue” program.
The Dip into the Blue program provided Allmendinger with a day-long immersion into the Air Force way of life.
“There are many parallels between NASCAR racing teams and the Air Force," said Col. Mike Tillema, chief of AFRS strategic marketing and communication. “Teamwork, speed, technology, performance and excellence – all traits the Air Force values-- make NASCAR a strong venue in which to inspire youth about careers available to them.”
The tour kicked off at Randolph High School where Allmendinger spoke to a group of 17 students.
“If you have something you’re passionate about,” Allmendinger said. “Do what you need to do to achieve your dream. Don’t let anyone stop you.”
While at Randolph AFB, Allmendinger and his team also met with Brig. Gen. Balan Ayyar, Air Force Recruiting Service commander, learned about the HQ AFRS mission and viewed static displays of training aircraft.
The “Dip into the Blue” tour also included a visit to the 37th Training Wing at Lackland AFB where they met Col. William Mott, 37th TRW commander, and received the training mission brief.
Allmendinger was also given the opportunity to visit the Recruiting School, a Basic Military Training dorm, eat lunch with a few basic trainees, observe 341st Training Squadron Military Working Dog School demonstrations and tour BMT’s The Beast training area.
While at The Beast, Allmendinger spoke to an auditorium full of trainees about his professional racing experiences and thanked them for their service.
“Race car driving is easy,” he said. “What you do is nerve wracking. Thank you for your service.”
This is Allmendinger’s first year driving the Air Force-sponsored #43 car.
The sport of racing aligns well with the Air Force’s target audiences’ interest and the Air Force’s brand of speed, teamwork and technology. The Air Force needs roughly 9,000 recruits each year to fill careers as engine mechanics, avionics specialist, electronics systems maintainers, crew chiefs, etc. The careers are for mechanically inclined youth who like to tinker with engines, such as racing fans.
This is the tenth season in NASCAR for the Air Force as a primary and associate sponsor. As a primary sponsor, the car will feature the Air Force paint scheme in two of 36 NASCAR points races this season.
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.13.2011 16:05 |
| Story ID: | 68693 |
| Location: | LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 122 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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