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JBSA News
NEWS | Feb. 28, 2017

12th Maintenance Group Hosts Job Shadow Day 2017

By Nicholas J. De La Peña 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas - Students from Judson High School Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Academy visited with the 12th Maintenance Group Feb. 2 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

Thirty eighth-grade students took part in the 2017 Job Shadow Day sponsored by San Antonio Works, which partners with more than 100 employers and nearly 3,000 students across San Antonio and Bexar County. 

The trip allowed students to gain first-hand experience on what it takes to keep aircraft, such as the T-38C Talon, soaring high.

Judson High School’s STEM Academy visit was led by Robert Hamm, 12th MXG deputy director. 

Hamm said that introducing young students to the wide scope of the 12th MXG mission is important. 

“This is a large organization and we employ about 475 folks in the aircraft maintenance trades here, and we’re constantly looking for talent,” said Hamm. “The 12th MXG is comprised of an entirely civilian crew, from top to bottom.” 

The students began with an overall mission brief given by Robert West, 12th MXG director, followed by a flightline tour where students saw how active the runway was. 

Aircraft could be seen taking off, landing and taxiing as the yellow school bus progressed toward a large aircraft maintenance hangar.  There, beyond the large metal and glass hanger doors, many aircraft were parked in various states of repair.

The students were split into three groups and rotated through areas where aircraft were undergoing maintenance.  One station gave the students a chance to touch and see inside the cockpit of a T-6 Texan II. 

Nolan Sorrell, Judson High School STEM Academy student, was eager to be around aircraft like the T-6. 

“Just to be there in front of it and to be able to realize that this goes over my head every day at school, and to be so up close and personal and touching it was really awesome,” said Sorrell.

Chances like these provide an opportunity not only for the 12th MXG to share with the community what goes on behind the gates of the base, but also gives young students like Sorrell a glimpse of how STEM fields apply at JBSA-Randolph and the military as a whole.

Joseph Jacobson, a Judson High School STEM Academy teacher, says this profession can be a real possibility for them. 

“STEM is all about hands-on application of technology,” said Jacobson. “We have the children study science, technology, engineering and math, and this shows them the real-world applications those studies would bring.”