Doing Something Amazing on snow

Published Jan. 17, 2008
By Lt. Col. Douglas E. Stropes
342nd Recruiting Squadron commander

SHAKOPEE, Minn. -- Thirty-four new Airman took the oath of enlistment during a break in the action at the 2007-2008 World PowerSport Association Snowmobile Tour event just outside of Minneapolis in Shakopee, Minn., Jan. 12.

Crowds had marveled at the daring of the high-flying snowmobilers who negotiated bumps, moguls and jumps in the snow, and although the racers awed the crowd with their athletic ability, the 34 who were ready to join the Air Force captured the crowd's attention during a pause in the action. More than 25,000 fans witnessed these young adults take the Air Force oath of enlistment for the first time, led by Brig. Gen. Suzanne Vautrinot, commander of Air Force Recruiting Service. The general also officiated as the Grand Marshal for the Air Force Canterbury SnoCross event.

The next stop for the new recruits is to head to basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Once there, they begin their rigorous transformation into trained Airmen and continue that evolution toward becoming Airman Warriors upon completion of technical training where they will either become linguists, security forces, survival instructors, loadmasters, and generally serve as trained military members in one of many Air Force career specialties, to name a few.

Throughout the day, event directors, team owners, athletes and spectators treated the Air Force's newest recruits as heroes by giving high-fives, tours of the pit area, and the chance to test out the latest snowmobile technology on a fabricated track. These recruits later shared refreshments with General Vautrinot and asked her questions about the Air Force.

Shakopee was the second leg of an eight-stop snowmobile tour with the Air Force sponsoring the Scheuring racing team and its two drivers, as well as carrying the role as the title sponsor for this stop of the tour.

SnoCross is the most popular form of snowmobile racing featuring a short-track with tight turns, banked corners and a variety of bumps on which racers catch "big air" in full view of its spectators. Many Air Force recruiters were on hand throughout the day to share information about Air Force opportunities with race fans. High-energy events, such as SnoCross, Monster Jam and NASCAR races, provide the Air Force an excellent venue to talk up Air Force careers with men and women who are looking for high-tech jobs, are patriotic, seeking adventure, and want to do something more with their lives.

General Vautrinot thanked the local community, event organizers and race team personnel for their outstanding support to the U.S. military. She saved her final praise for the Delayed Entry Program members for making the decision to "Do Something Amazing" by joining the Air Force.

A 934th Airlift Wing (Reserve) C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft performed a flyover at the start of the race to focus on Air Force participation in the sport, and to pay tribute to the newest Air Force enlistees. The 934th Airlift Wing's home base is out of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, Minn.

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