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March Airmen inspire local at-risk teens

  • Published
  • By Megan Crusher
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. --  A group of at-risk teenagers from the Norwalk Sheriff's Station PRIDE program toured March ARB Nov. 5 and learned about some of the Air Force Reserve career options available to them. PRIDE stands for "Personal Responsibility in Development and Ethics" and is a 12-week youth intervention program.

The program began in 2008 and is conducted twice a year, offering field trips and mentoring classes to teens who are struggling to make the right choices in life. The teens who participate in the program are from Norwalk, Whittier and La Mirada, as well as some parts of Downey, Paramount, La Habra and San Pedro.

"We are trying to save some of these kids, to show them the path they're on is not the right path and hopefully get them to focus on the future," said Brian Doyle, a sergeant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Station assigned to the Norwalk Patrol Station.

Many of the teens in the program have come from harsh backgrounds. They have experienced run-ins with law enforcement, drug and gang problems, school issues and some have parents or relatives who have been in jail or are in jail, said Doyle.

"Every scenario you can possibly imagine, these kids have been in, so we're trying to be positive role models and have a positive influence in their lives to show them they have alternatives and options," he said. 

The group first came to March last May and the tour was such a big hit Doyle requested the base for the next class.   

"Everybody really spoke highly of the tour," said Doyle. "They enjoyed seeing the aircraft and coming to this military base." 

The fire department was the first stop on this year's tour and Bill Albers, an engineer with the March Department, arranged a display of the department's fire trucks and tools. He then talked about the different ways to become an engineer.

"Station tours humanize firefighters and let people know that at one time, we were just like them, said Albers. "I try to impress on teens that being in a service career is a noble profession."

The C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker statics displays were the next stops for the group. Lt. Col. Jason Lief, 336th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, explained the mission of the tanker and described the steps he took to became a pilot. 

During the group's lunch at the Backstreet Café, Command Chief Master Sgt. Ericka Kelly gave an impromptu talk to the teens about how she lived in Compton, Calif., when she first immigrated to the United States and how she made it to where she is by working hard.

Kelly made such a positive impression on the students that one of the group's leaders asked her to make a visit to the students during a future classroom session. She accepted.

"I want them to know that nothing's easy, but every door is open to them, they just have to go through it," said Kelly.

Security Forces was the final stop for the teens. Staff Sgt. Randall Bowen, installation patrolman and armorer with the 452nd Security Forces Squadron, gave a weapons demonstration.  Bowen demonstrated the proper methods used to handle the weapons and let the teens hold them and try on his body armor.

"When I do these weapon displays, I hope they see that the military is a great opportunity to help them before they are led down the wrong path," said Bowen. "I really enjoy talking to these kids."

Keep up with what's going on at March through the base website, Facebook and Twitter.