ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Hundreds of Albuquerque‑area high schoolers got an inside look at Air Force careers Thursday — and airmen say the biggest takeaway is that the service isn’t just about pilots.
Roughly 400 students from at least 15 local schools spent the day touring aircraft, testing drones and robots, and speaking one‑on‑one with active-duty airmen during All‑Star Leadership Day at Kirtland Air Force Base.
Maj. Chelsey Hamilton, Assistant Director of Operations with the 512th Rescue Squadron, said many students arrive with the same assumption.
“A misconception in some places is that everyone assumes, like the Air Force — they’re all pilots,” she said.
Airmen spent the day walking students through dozens of career paths they may not have heard of — including medical specialties, aircraft maintenance, engineering, cybersecurity and rescue operations.
Abigail Byron, director of Operations for Kirtland’s Maintenance Squadron under the 58th Special Operations Wing, said trade skills are a major part of the mission.
“I currently work in the maintenance squadron, and that is a very trade‑heavy unit,” she said. “What I want to share with this next generation is the importance of trade skills.”
Students rotated through stations offering hands-on experiences — from trying on rescue gear to exploring aircraft interiors.
“They’re trying on gear. They’re getting hands-on time. It’s really great to see that,” Byron said.
Col. Jason Allen, Commander of the 58th Special Operations Wing, said students often discover new possibilities they never considered.
“We’ve already heard a couple of students say, ‘I didn’t know you could be a surgeon in the military or operate on the back of an aircraft,’” Allen said. “It’s really exciting — ‘you’ll pay for my education and I’ll learn all these things?’”
Hamilton said another common surprise is how inclusive many flight-related jobs are.
“A lot of people don’t realize you can wear glasses and still be a pilot,” she said. “My hope is people can come out and see themselves in something they didn’t think was possible.”
Allen added that for airmen, the event isn’t about pushing enlistment — it’s about building connections.
“The biggest success isn’t how many sign up for recruiting,” he said. “It’s that understanding and engagement as we see each other in the community.”
Byron agreed.
“If a kid can walk away and say, ‘I didn’t know I could do that,’ it’s a win,” she said.
