An Osan Elementary School student poses in fighter pilot gear on Career Day at Osan Air Base, South Korea, May 9, 2025. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea — Curious, career-minded fourth- and fifth graders spent a recent afternoon collecting information from aviation professionals at the annual Career Day on this U.S. installation south of Seoul.
The May 8 event connected students from Osan Elementary School on the flightline with representatives from four career fields: firefighting, aviation equipment maintenance, air traffic control and specialists in survival, evasion, resistance and escape, or SERE.
“Career Day is one of our favorite events because it brings real-world professions directly to our students,” said school principal Allysse Struhs. “We’re providing the outside world experience that they would get in the states.”
Usually a two-day event, this year’s Career Day was trimmed to one because of a scheduling conflict with Osan Air Power Days, the first event of its kind at the base in six years.
In a few hours, students gained a hands-on introduction to Air Force careers. Each stop afforded opportunities to try the gear, ask questions and get a real-world glimpse into military jobs.
Firefighters from the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron suited up students in helmets and gloves, and demonstrated how they use water hoses and breathing equipment to navigate dangerous environments.
Nearby, air traffic controllers explained how they manage the skies above Osan, walking students through radar screens and headset communications. Flight equipment maintainers displayed helmets, vests and emergency gear used by fighter pilots, sparking conversations about safety and precision.
“A lot of them had no idea what my job was until I explained how we prepare the gear that keeps pilots alive,” said Senior Airman Bryan Truong, a flight equipment specialist with the 25th Fighter Squadron.
Senior Airman Mauriuce Chambers of the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron shows an Osan Elementary School student how to operate a fire hose on Career Day a Osan Air Base, South Korea, May 9, 2025. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Airman Dylan Favorite discusses the essentials of a tactical deployment kit on Career Day at Osan Air Base, South Korea, May 9, 2025. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
An air traffic controller guides Career Day students through the basics of flight coordination during a tour of the control tower simulator at Osan Air Base, South Korea, May 9, 2025. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Airman Bryan Truong helps an Osan Elementary School student try on a pilot helmet and oxygen mask at Osan Air Base, South Korea, May 9, 2025. (Trevares Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
Students who are exposed to career-related experiences in elementary and middle school show increased motivation and improved academic performance, particularly in STEM subjects, according to a 2020 report by the U.S. Department of Education.
Struhs said students’ early exposure to careers pays off in the long run.
“For many of these students, today might be the first time they consider a future in aviation, emergency response or military service,” she said. “It also gives them a sense of connecting with their families, and the great things their parents are doing to serve our country.”
