Civil Engineering Squadron teaches STEM to students

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Juan Torres
Yokota Air Base, Japan --  Making radios, lie detectors and launchers are some of the things Yokota’s Mendel elementary school has made with the help of the 374th Civil Engineering Squadron’s Electric shop.

The 374 CES is helping Yokota’s youth through the Society of American Military Engineers. One of SAME’s primary objectives is to build our nation’s future engineers and leaders through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics outreach events.
STEM is designed to improve competitiveness in science and technology development.

“Ultimately, we want to teach the students and generate an interest in engineering that they will maintain throughout their education,” said MSgt. Terrance Kaup, SAME president. “We are also looking into setting up similar programs in some of the local international schools.”

With an average of 25 students per class, the 374 CES has taught close to 200 students this year and hope to teach many more throughout the rest of the year. The Airmen have taught the students basic electrical components and principals which allows them to get hands on with snap circuits with basic things like motors and lights.
SAME has over 54,000 volunteer hours annually supporting STEM.

The 374 CES currently has 12 instructors teaching the weekly hour-long class.

The instructors hope to inspire the students to pursue a field in science or mathematics.

“We want to spark an interest in the students and to create future engineers and electricians,” said Airman 1st Class Austin Cartwright, 374 CES electrical apprentice and STEM instructor.

With donations from SAME and the USO, Mendel Elementary school and West Side elementary students have been able to enjoy the course.

“This class forecasts CE’s abilities and expertise onto these students, I think we need more of that in the schools,” said MSgt. Tyree Glenn, 374 CES electrical section chief. “Instead of a basic core class component, we want to show them different career fields that exist on base. We want to show them that this is what keeps the base running.”