Captain mentors teens in Senate Youth Program Published March 16, 2009 By Staff Sgt. S. Patrick McCollum National Guard Bureau WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Students participating in the U.S. Senate Youth Program recently toured government buildings including the Pentagon, met their elected representatives and learned about the foundations of democracy here. They also became personally acquainted with a defender of this democratic process: Capt. Ladonna Singleton. The Air National Guard captain, a communications officer with the 254th Combat Communications Group in Garland, Texas, was the only Air Guard member to mentor students in the weeklong program that brings young people from across the country to learn more about the political process. Captain Singleton escorted the students as they talked with high-level officials, including senators, Supreme Court justices, and even President Barack Obama. Though the students may already know a lot about the political process, Captain Singleton said many were unfamiliar with the military. "Some of the students had no idea what the Air Force did or the Army or the Marines or the Coast Guard or any of the other services until they met up with us," she said. "They now have a face, and now they're like, 'Maybe I can consider this.'" The students were very curious about her job in the military. "Most of the questions I get (are) 'What do you do?' and 'Do you like it?' and 'Why you do it?'" Captain Singleton said. She took these opportunities to talk to them about the Guard and their role in hurricane relief, she said. Captain Singleton took a little more time with Evan McCartney, a Senate Youth Program student from Missouri who expects to go to the U.S. Air Force Academy. "I want to be a pilot," Evan said of his planned Air Force career. He expressed a particular interest in jets. Captain Singleton introduced Evan to the day-to-day workings of the Air Force, and the growth fields of unmanned aircraft systems, intelligence, and the captain's favorite -- communications. "She's just brought an awareness of the internal side of the Air Force," Evan said. "I've always kind of known about the (UAS'), but she's shown me how it is growing." Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page