Scott Airmen guide youth in community Published May 18, 2016 By Senior Airman Jake Eckhardt 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Strengthening community partnerships is one the top priorities for 375th Air Mobility Wing Commander Col. Laura Lenderman. Four Team Scott Airmen embraced this by mentoring more than 70 ROTC cadets who attend University City High School in Missouri. The Airmen taught the young men and women many things about Air Force core values, facing movements, and appearance, among other topics. Master Sgt. Danielle McLaughlin, 375th Communication Squadron executive communication NCOIC, said, "We were very hands-on. They are young, so we taught them the military standards by showing them. "I spent a good portion of my time fixing hair with the young women." Staff Sgt. Sydney Sullivan, 375th Communication Support Squadron major command server application operator, however, spent his time with the young men teaching them how to shave and keep well-groomed to adhere to the military standard. Although the military members shared information about their time in the Air Force, they also took the time to talk about important decisions in the young students' lives. Sullivan said, "We were there to represent the Air Force, but we also wanted to talk to them about their life choices, goals, colleges, career paths, and professionalism." Both sergeants went on to talk about the challenges they experienced in adjusting from growing up in their hometown to serving as an Air Force Airman. Both of the military members grow up in the Washington, D.C., area and struggled with transitioning to become a professional. McLaughlin said, "We wanted to talk to them about these things, because we wanted to show them that they had options. We wanted to show them that their environment doesn't dictate who you become." Sullivan said, "I feel that what we said resonated with them. Sgt. McLaughlin and myself both come from an urban background ourselves, so I think them seeing that it is possible to translate our life experiences over to the Air Force opened their eyes." All of the talking points during the meeting alluded to one idea--creating a vision for oneself. McLaughlin said, "Having a vision, whatever it is, is very important. "We talked a lot about researching your vision now so you can apply yourself later to make that vision happen." Even though this was the first time for both of the military members to be able to mentor school students, they both say they are humbled and want to continue mentoring. "To be able to mentor the children and represent the Air Force at the same time meant so much to me, and I'm going to keep it up," she said.