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Raptor pilots visit future generation

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Eric Kordus, a 95th Fighter Squadron F-22 Raptor fighter pilot, shows Spangdahlem Middle School students a pilot’s helmet during a visit on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 9, 2015. The pilots explained how the air-refueling process works, the aerodynamics of the F-22 and the proper gear required during flight. The 95th FS, from Tyndall Air Base, Fla., sent the F-22 Raptors to Spangdahlem on their first training mission to Europe as part of the European Reassurance Initiative, which provides support to NATO allies and partners in Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim/Released)

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Raptor pilots visit future generation

U.S. Air Force Capt. Michael Sayers, a 95th Fighter Squadron F-22 Raptor fighter pilot, explains tunnel vision to Spangdahlem Middle School students during a visit on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 9, 2015. Two 95th FS pilots visited the school to inform students on the aspects of their job and expose them to the career field. The 95th FS, from Tyndall Air Base, Fla., sent the F-22 Raptors to Spangdahlem on their first training mission to Europe as part of the European Reassurance Initiative, which provides support to NATO allies and partners in Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim/Released)

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Raptor pilots visit future generation

Regin Finley, Spangdahlem Middle School 8th-grader and daughter of Amy and U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Finley, 52nd Equipment Maintenance Squadron munitions material section chief, smiles during a visit on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 9, 2015. Students ranging from 5th to 8th attended the 95th FS pilots’ visit. The 95th FS, from Tyndall Air Base, Fla., sent the F-22 Raptors to Spangdahlem on their first training mission to Europe as part of the European Reassurance Initiative, which provides support to NATO allies and partners in Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim/Released)

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Raptor pilots visit future generation

Spangdahlem Middle School students ask questions during a visit on Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 9, 2015. The middle school invited the pilots to speak as part of a program that exposes students to different career fields involved with advanced sciences and technology. The 95th FS, from Tyndall Air Base, Fla., sent the F-22 Raptors to Spangdahlem on their first training mission to Europe as part of the European Reassurance Initiative, which provides support to NATO allies and partners in Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim/Released)

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Raptor pilots visit future generation

Junior ROTC members from Bitburg Middle-High School visit an F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft during a tour of an F-22 in a hardened aircraft shelter at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 10, 2015. Two F-22 pilots, assigned to the 95th Fighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., lead the tour and informed the students of the aircraft’s capabilities and mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman/Released)

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Raptor pilots visit future generation

U.S. Air Force Capt. Michael Sayers, 95th Fighter Squadron F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft pilot, talks to a group of Junior ROTC members from Bitburg Middle-High School during a tour of an F-22 in a hardened aircraft shelter at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 10, 2015. Sayers, along with other members of the 95th Fighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., were part of the first inaugural F-22 training deployment to Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman/Released)

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Raptor pilots visit future generation

A 95th Fighter Squadron patch is displayed on the shoulder of U.S. Air Force Capt. Michael Sayers, 95th FS F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft pilot, during a Junior ROTC tour of an F-22 in a hardened aircraft shelter at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 10, 2015. The 95th FS, located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., deployed four F-22s to Spangdahlem as part of the European Reassurance Initiative. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman/Released)

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Raptor pilots visit future generation

Airmen and Junior ROTC members from Bitburg Middle-High School stand around an F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft during a tour of an F-22 in a hardened aircraft shelter at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 10, 2015. Six JROTC members participated in the tour. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman/Released)

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Raptor pilots visit future generation

U.S. Air Force Capt. Chris Ball, 95th Fighter Squadron F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft pilot, gives a 95th FS patch to a Bitburg Middle-High School student during a tour of an F-22 in a hardened aircraft shelter at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Sept. 10, 2015. In addition to the tour, the F-22 pilots interacted with students at Spangdahlem Middle School the day prior. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman/Released)

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Raptor pilots visit future generation

Published Sept. 14, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- F-22 Raptor fighter pilots from the 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, visited Spangdahlem Middle School students Sept. 9 and gave a tour of their aircraft to Bitburg High School Junior ROTC cadets Sept. 10.

The pilots took time between training missions to inform the students about their careers to aid in school's program designed to introduce students to career fields involved with advanced sciences and technology. The 95th FS's F-22s arrived at Spangdahlem Aug. 28 to support the European Reassurance Initiative demonstrating the U.S. commitment to NATO allies and the security of Europe.

"Our kids are faced today with things that we didn't have when we were kids," said Jacquelyn Koenig, a teacher at the middle school. "We need to expose them to the many opportunities and job career fields that are out there. Technology is growing at such a faster rate, we're preparing kids for a future that we know nothing about, currently. We want our kids to be the best adults they can be."

Students from the 5th through 8th grades attended the briefing seminar where the pilots taught the basic aerodynamics of the F-22 aircraft, the proper gears needed to fly the aircraft and the air-refueling process.

"It was awesome having an experience of pilots coming to talk to us," said Tanner Lewis, 7th grader and son of Jenatta and U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Aaron Lewis, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron first sergeant. "It seems like a really cool thing to do, just to be a part of that world."

Bitburg High School JROTC cadets attended the F-22 tour, witnessing the Raptor up-close in one of Spangdahlem's hardened aircraft shelters. The pilots, leading the tour, answered any questions they had before they headed back for their school.

"The students are our future," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Michael Sayers, a 95th FS fighter pilot. "It is really cool to interact with them, and it is important to get them out here and see the Air Force's technology firsthand."

For more photos of the events, visit the Flickr pages for the school visit and the JROTC tour.