AFTAC hosts scouts for merit badge event

  • Published
  • By Susan A. Romano
  • AFTAC Public Affairs
PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. --  On a sunny Saturday morning here on Florida’s Space Coast, 91 Scouts and Trailblazers descended on Patrick SFB to earn the Nuclear Science Merit Badge with the help of members of the Air Force Technical Applications Center.
 
The annual event, hosted by members of AFTAC’s Radiochemistry Lab, gives the visiting boys and girls the chance to listen to experts talk about particle accelerators, fission and fusion, nuclear hazards, and radioactive exposure.
 
Historically, the event has brought scouts from across Central Florida to the nuclear treaty monitoring center, but for the first time since the program’s inception, this year the nuclear treaty monitoring center welcomed a scout and his father who traveled from Kentucky to participate.  And for the second consecutive year, youth from Trail Life USA signed up to earn the badge with AFTAC.  Trail Life is a faith-based organization whose mission is to guide young men to lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor life.
 
The day’s agenda began with a mission briefing that set the stage on what AFTAC’s role is for the Department of Defense.  After auditorium presentations by AFTAC’s scientists and engineers, the Scouts were broken up into small groups and were taught how to construct a 3-D model of an element and its isotopes using colorful jellied candies and toothpicks.
 
From there, they built a cloud chamber made out of plastic Petri dishes, felt, construction paper and fabric fasteners, which they later used to visualize the condensation trails left by ionizing radiation.
 
Second Lt. Conor Metz was this year’s project officer, overseeing the itinerary from start to finish.
 
“One of the main objectives of the event is to ensure the boys and girls walk away with a better understanding of the effects of radiation and to learn about the ALARA principle – as low as reasonably achievable,” said Metz.  “We do our best to put together a program that is interesting, informative, and keeps their attention, while also giving them the opportunity to do hands-on activities.”
 
After small group sessions were complete, the group headed to AFTAC’s outdoor pavilion to enjoy lunch, discuss the morning’s activities, and network with other troops.  They were also treated to a visit from the AFTAC commander, Col. Creighton Mullins, who imparted some words of wisdom to the future leaders.
 
“It’s exciting to have you here today and to encourage you to keep doing what you’re doing,” said Mullins.  “Live your life with intention, and treat each badge you earn with the reverence and importance they deserve and focus on what they represent:  discipline, hard work, teamwork and self-sacrifice.  I am confident your troop leaders and parents are very proud of your determination, so congrats on earning this coveted merit badge!”
 
After lunch, the boys and girls visited various stations within the Radiochemistry Lab and the center’s warehouse.  Subject matter experts briefed them about radiochemistry, mass spectrometry, nuclear measurement techniques, radiation safety, and conducted liquid nitrogen experiments.
 
Overall, the feedback from the scouts, troop leaders and parents was overwhelmingly positive.
 
“This has been a wonderful program and extremely informative,” said Chris Waldrop, District Training Chair from Troop 475 in Fort Pierce, Fla.  “Our boys came here not knowing a lot about nuclear science, but after today they’re leaving with an incredible amount of information they learned from actual experts in the field.  It was also a neat opportunity to expose them to military people and what life is like on an Air Force base.  We can’t thank AFTAC enough for offering this to our scouts.”
 
Jesse Portz, a homeschooled 10th grader from Troop 306 in DeBary, Fla., was thrilled to be the recipient of a commander’s coin from Mullins.
 
“This was a total surprise!” the 17-year old said after being recognized by the colonel.  “I love to learn, and I loved seeing all the cool stuff here at AFTAC.  It was awesome learning from all the professionals about what they do for the Air Force.  I want to become a therapist someday, but all this science helps me grow and learn and it was such an interesting experience.”
 
Robert Smith, the adult advisor for the Trail Life group of four teens who participate, thought the event was very well organized.
 
“I absolutely love this program!” he exclaimed.  “This is an absolutely fantastic way for our servicemembers to pay it forward to help these boys with advancement as they consider their future careers.  Can’t say enough positive things about AFTAC!”
 
Metz praised the team who helped put together another successful merit badge program.
 
“As a youth, I was not involved with the scouts,” he said.  “But this year, I came away from the event extremely impressed with how involved and passionate the participating scouts were.  My hope is that these scouts leave the event today with a better understanding of the nuclear science and the military and that there are more options in the Air Force that exist than just being a fighter pilot.  I hope these scouts can realize all of the cool things that we are able to do in the military, especially here at AFTAC!”