JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas – In an effort to continuously highlight events honoring our heritage, while exposing youth to flying, a combat systems operator instructor (ICSO) at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, will take over the Air Education and Training Command Instagram account March11 during the 2022 Combat Systems Operator Sapphire event.
Maj. Kiersten Thompson, an ICSO and an aviation inspiration mentorship volunteer for Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, will have the reigns during the Instagram takeover.
“We hope by hosting this event and including past, present and future aviators, we can reflect on how far we’ve come since the first female CSOs 45 years ago,” Thompson said. “It’s certain to be an inspiring event for young members of the community from diverse backgrounds while equipping the next generation of CSOs with the answer to everyone's favorite question... ‘What is a CSO?’”
AIM is comprised of more than 400 members and they are tasked with lines of effort to strengthen diversity within the rated career fields across the Air Force. Members attend various events throughout the year where they expose America’s youth to the Air Force’s aviation opportunities.
“Joining the AIM team is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my Air Force career,” Thompson said. “Getting to engage with America’s youth and share the importance of diversity in our Air and Space Forces has been an incredible experience. It is our fighting advantage, and our diverse background and experiences shape our culture, and enhance our capability to defend our nation.”
The 2022 Combat Systems Operator Sapphire event celebrates the first women to graduate the CSO course, 45 years ago.
Attendees for the event represent Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps and Reserve Officer's Training Corps students and they will have the opportunity to hear experiences of the Air Force’s first female navigators, gain career insight from current and retired senior leaders and interact with today’s aircrew members.
During the takeover, followers on the Instagram account will see snippets of various speakers at the event, hear from cadets at the event, learn highlights of the CSO heritage and see static displays at the Naval Air Station Pensacola flightline featured during the event.
Additional AFRS, Det. 1, efforts include: AIM HIGH Flight Academy, General Officers (GO) Inspire, and Pathway to Wings.
To watch future Instagram take overs, follow the AETC account at aetc_firstcommand.