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Dragons participate in Pathways to Possibilities

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Bob Keophakdy, 81st Medical Operations Squadron emergency room technician, shows medical equipment to Leakesville Middle School students during the Pathways to Possibilities event at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss., Nov. 14, 2018. The purpose of the event, set forth by the Mississippi Department of Education, is to help encourage a direction for the students high school pathway choice and is linked to the Common Core state standards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

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Dragons participate in Pathways to Possibilities

Justin DePew, 81st Security Forces Squadron unit trainer, conducts a stun gun demonstration on U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Anchondo, 81st Medical Operations Squadron medical technician, during the Pathways to Possibilities event at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss., Nov. 14, 2018. The event is an interactive career expo designed for all eighth graders in private and public schools in the six lower counties of Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

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Dragons participate in Pathways to Possibilities

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Romero Garcia, 81st Communications Squadron client systems technician, provides a demonstration on making cable from scratch to St. Martin Middle School students during the Pathways to Possibilities event at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss., Nov. 14, 2018. The event is an interactive career expo designed for all eighth graders in private and public schools in the six lower counties of Mississippi. The purpose of the event, set forth by the Mississippi Department of Education, is to help encourage a direction for the students high school pathway choice and is linked to the Common Core state standards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

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Dragons participate in Pathways to Possibilities

U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Colby Gilbert, 333rd Training Squadron cyber student, provides a cyber demonstration to St. Martin Middle School students during the Pathways to Possibilities event at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss., Nov. 4, 2018. The event is an interactive career expo designed for all eighth graders in private and public schools in the six lower counties of Mississippi. The purpose of the event, set forth by the Mississippi Department of Education, is to help encourage a direction for the students high school pathway choice and is linked to the Common Core state standards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

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Dragons participate in Pathways to Possibilities

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jonathan Han, 333rd Training Squadron instructor, provides a cyber demonstration to West Wortham Middle School students during the Pathways to Possibilities event at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss., Nov. 14, 2018. The event is an interactive career expo designed for all eighth graders in private and public schools in the six lower counties of Mississippi. The purpose of the event, set forth by the Mississippi Department of Education, is to help encourage a direction for the students high school pathway choice and is linked to the Common Core state standards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

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Dragons participate in Pathways2Possibilities

Published Nov. 15, 2018
By Senior Airman Holly Cook
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --

More than 40 Airmen from the 81st Training Wing attended the 6th annual Pathways2Possibilities event Nov. 14 – 15, at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention Center.

Ten groups from the 81st Training Wing represented Keesler amongst 100 different businesses and organizations from around the Mississippi Gulf Coast to teach eighth graders and at-risk youth about different career opportunities available to them after high school.

“The event creates a 3D, hands-on experience for youth to explore what is possible for their future careers,” said Karen Sock, P2P project manager. “We are bringing together educators, local businesses and organizations to help create a better future for our youth.”

Nearly 8,000 students from the lower five Mississippi counties got the opportunity to learn more about different jobs available to them. Each job was put into a “pathway” ranging from medical and law enforcement to engineering and visual arts.

This year Team Keesler was able to more than quadruple its past attendance at the event to help highlight more career fields within the Air Force.

“This year we had a huge presence from Keesler,” said Sock. “Keesler is a very important part of the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy. These Airmen are very important to our community and the diversity of what they do allows them to be represented in almost every single pathway. We were so delighted to see Keesler well represented at this year’s event and to see how well they are represented in years to come.”

Some groups, like the 333rd Training Squadron, were able to bring technical students to help showcase not only their job but also the experience of student life at Keesler.

“This was my first year participating in this event but the best part was seeing the kids’ eyes light up as I was showing them the different things they can do in cyber in the Air Force,” said 2nd Lt. Colby Gilbert, 333rd TRS cyberspace operations student. “Letting them know if they put forth the effort and study hard then they can have amazing opportunities after they graduate was an amazing feeling.”