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DEPpers Aim High at Air Force Canterbury Snocross

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Douglas E. Stropes
  • 342nd Recruiting Squadron
SHAKOPEE, Minn. --  Snocross racers, start your engines! Recruits, start your military careers!

As snowmobile racers dazzled fans with high-flying jumps at top speeds, 17 Delayed Entry Program recruits took an oath to "Aim High" at the Air Force Canterbury Snocross event in Shakopee, Minnesota, March 4.

Brig. Gen. Gregory Feest, Deputy Director for Force Application, Directorate of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, Washington, D.C., officiated the life-changing DEP event during Round 9 of the 2006-2007 World PowerSport Association Snowmobile Tour schedule. In honor of the enlistment ceremony, a C-130 Hercules tactical airlifter assigned to the 934th Airlift Wing, Minneapolis, St. Paul International Airport, Air Reserve Station, performed a flyover showing off Air Force air power to Snocross fans.

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. Big air was on display on the track, in the grandstand and in the skies above, and Air Force recruiters were on hand to share the Air Force lifestyle and career opportunities with race fans. High energy events, such as Snocross, Monster Jam and NASCAR races, provide the Air Force an excellent venue to share Air force career opportunities with men and women who are interested in high-tech environments, are patriotic, seek adventure and want to do something amazing with their lives, said Col. Brian Madtes, Air Force Recruiting Service strategic communications division chief.

Throughout the day, event directors, team owners, athletes and spectators treated the Air Force's new recruits as heroes by giving them a tour of the pit area. An overwhelming number of race leaders, mechanics and drivers stopped what they were doing to thank the DEPpers for the commitment they made to the country. Handshakes and high-fives exchanged between the crowd and the Airmen as they made their way from the track back to the grandstand.

The new recruits will soon attend basic military training. Upon graduation, they will continue their transformation into Airmen warriors at technical school where they will become linguists, security forces members, survival instructors, load masters and other Air Force specialties.

General Feest thanked the local community for its outstanding support to the U.S. military, Snocross leaders for the honor to serve as the event grand marshal, and congratulated the Delayed Entry Program members for making the decision to "Do Something Amazing" by joining the Air Force.

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