Immersion Program

  • Published
  • By Airman Pedro Mota
  • 56th Figher Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz --  Immersion Program
by Airman Pedro Mota
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Want to learn more about the missions of other squadrons at Luke?

Every quarter the 56th Fighter Wing hosts an Immersion program to provide enlisted Airmen, Tech. Sgt. to Airmen Basic, with a better understanding of what each group in the 56th Fighter Wing brings to the fight.

"Members who are selected to attend the immersion program will spend a day with the host group and will attend lunch at Club Five-Six with the command chief," said Master Sgt. James Castillo, 56th Force Support Squadron superintendent of manpower and personnel. "The entire day will be planned by the chosen group. The chosen group is rotated every quarter to explore the experiences the four groups and the Fighter Wing agencies offer."

The immersion program gives Airman the opportunity to experience hands-on what other units are doing.

"Typically, the event only lasts for one day," Castillo said. "Instead of being briefed by each squadron on what that squadron does in a typical day, the Airmen get to participate in live scenario events."

The 56th Mission Support Group hosted September's immersion program event and was a huge success.

"Who is chosen depends on the superintendents of each group," he said. "They pick two Airmen from their group, for a total of 10 people attending the immersion program each time. But, because of the positive feedback we have been receiving, the number of people should increase."

The Airmen experienced making culinary art, holding fire hoses, looking at snakes, welding, checking out explosive ordnance handling robots and playing out scenarios while paint balling.

"I was satisfied by the fact that in some of the squadrons we visited, we had the opportunity to see their end product and the lasting effect of projects they worked on," said Airman 1st Class Malachi Speller, 56th Medical Operations Squadron mental health technician. "By allowing us to go behind the scenes and get an idea of how they do things, we were able to observe some of their customs and courtesies as well as the actual work they put in day to day. I would love to attend another Immersion Program in the future. The opportunity to attend was an honor."

What was only for the select few is open to everyone.

"In the past, we only let award winners do the immersions," Castillo said. "But now we are opening it up to others, helping Airmen go to this and not feel like it's mandated, because it is a lot of fun."

The immersion program let's groups reward its outstanding performers and in turn learn more about what is going on in other units.

"Basically, it lets our stand out performers come and see the immersion program," Castillo said. "The Immersion Program lets those Airmen get that breath of experience, because they have the potential to grow in the Air Force and will be able to carry that experience with them and spread the word on how others do their job."