Air Force Falcon visits Florida school children

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes
  • Defense Media Activity
MELBOURNE, Fla. (AFNS) --  Approximately 300 middle school students saw a live American kestrel falcon during a presentation from the U.S. Air Force Academy falconry program Oct. 28 here.

Cadet 3rd Class Danielle Cortez and her falcon Buzz Lightyear visited students at L.B. Johnson Middle School here as part of Air Force Week Cocoa Beach 2010. Other Airmen, including a firefighter, an avionics electrician and a laboratory technician were also on hand to answer questions the students had about the Air Force.

"In the civilian world, they use (falcons) for hunting," Cadet Cortez said to the students. "But at the Academy we're the Air Force Falcons, so it's our mascot. We have the only performing NCAA mascot in the United States and during half time at football games we do flying presentations.  We also go around the community, like we are with you guys right now."

A portion of the Academy falconry program is education, which allows cadet falconers to travel the country with the Air Force mascot to educate audiences about the Air Force and the falconry program.

The questions the audience of 13- through 15-year olds ranged from, "Would Buzz be wearing a costume for Halloween," to "What are the criteria to be accepted into the Academy?"

"I like talking about falconry, but I like talking about the Academy," said Cadet Cortez of her interaction with the students. "It's been a dream of mine since the third grade. So I like to inform the (students) about it; it's a great opportunity."

Though college may be a few years away for these middle school students, the presentation may have piqued the interest of some potential future cadets.

"It was cool," said Brittany Harthon, 15, who was also a member of the Civil Air Patrol. "I've never seen that before. I think it's cool -- all the activities (they do at the Academy.)

Cadet Cortez and Buzz visited schools in Brevard County and the Orlando area and will wrap up their visit at the Cocoa Beach air show Oct. 30 and 31 at the Cocoa Beach Pier.

For information about Air Force Week Cocoa Beach 2010 visit www.airforceweek.af.mil. For more information on the Academy falconry program click www.usafa.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9425.