Senior class takes flight Published Oct. 19, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Erin R. Babis 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- With an F-15C Eagle and HH-60G Pave Hawk in the background, a group of teenagers gathered in a protective aircraft shelter during the early morning hours of Oct. 14. The teens weren't the newest batch of maintainers fresh out of technical school, but rather the Lakenheath High School senior class of 2016. They spent the morning interacting with Liberty Airmen, learning more about the 48th Fighter Wing mission and how it's accomplished. "We seem to be surrounded with aircraft, but rarely have an opportunity to see what these magnificent machines look like up close," said Doug Rehak, LHS senior class sponsor. "I think it's important that students have an appreciation and understanding of what the mission at Royal Air Force Lakenheath is and how we play a role in the defense of the U.S. and the larger world." Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Sinnwell, 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron airframe and power plant generalist section chief, explained that this event helped to bridge the gap between the news stories the students see on television and the extra hours their parents put in when they're gearing up for deployment. "Like the rest of us, they patiently endure the break in conversation as a pair of F-15s take off for a sortie, or casually notice the helicopters flying in slow loops off in the distance," Sinnwell said. "But it's not often that someone talks directly to them about the mission or what strategic objectives our aircraft support." The event was suggested by the senior class officers during a meeting with Rehak as an educational opportunity while the underclassmen took the Preliminary SAT. "I think that for the average military kid in high school, even though their parents work on the base, they may not necessarily know everything about the different functions and jobs going on," explained Samuel Sorenson, LHS 2016 senior class president. "Even if you did know what was going on, I still think this trip was interesting because it's not just hearing about it, it's getting to see it for yourself." The event brought Airmen and the children of military service members together, taking advantage of a great opportunity to share information and bring a better understanding to the students of what their parents are doing all day and what the extra hours support. "Military families endure many unique challenges," Sinnwell said. "It's important to understand how we all fit into the big picture and what capabilities our Liberty Airmen bring to the fight."