STARBASE; Engaging young minds
Maj. Maurice J. Kent, A-10 fighter pilot, 917th Operations Support Squadron, fields questions from a group of Caddo Heights Elementary School 5th Grade students during a briefing about the A-10 Thunderbolt II at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Dec. 10, 2010. The students are attending STARBASE Louisiana, at Barksdale, one of 60 national STARBASE sites. It is sponsored by the 917th Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command. The program presents an exciting 25-hour hands on/minds on aviation and aerospace curriculum to area 5th grade students and their teachers. The DoD program is committed to addressing the critical needs in STEM education - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - STARBASE Louisiana introduces its students to exciting STEM education topics, inspiring these young minds to further explore these topics in future course work. Meadowview Elementary is part of the Bossier Parish School System. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston)