WASHINGTON, D.C. - Students participating in the U.S. Senate Youth Program recently toured government buildings including the Pentagon, met their elected representatives and learned about the foundations of democracy.
They also became personally acquainted with a defender of this democratic process: a Citizen-Airman.
Air Force Capt. Ladonna Singleton, a communications officer with the 254th Combat Communications Group in Garland, Texas, was the only Air Guard member to mentor students in the weeklong program that brings young people from across the country to learn more about the political process.
"We have to make sure we have them all 100 percent accounted for from the time we get up for breakfast at 7:30 to the time we go to bed," said Singleton. "We have to stay in this service dress uniform until 11:00 at night."
Singleton escorted the students as they talked with high-level officials, including senators, Supreme Court justices, and even President Barack Obama.
Though the students may already know a lot about the political process, Singleton said that many are unfamiliar with the military.
"Some of the students had no idea what the Air Force did or the Army or the Marines or the Coast Guard or any of the other services until they met up with us," she said. "They now have a face, and now they're like 'maybe I can consider this.'"
The students were very curious about her job in the military. "Most of the questions I get (are) 'What do you do?' and 'Do you like it?' and 'Why you do it?'" Singleton said.
She took these opportunities to talk to them about the Guard and their role in hurricane relief, she said.
Singleton took a little more time with Evan McCartney, a U.S. Senate Youth Program student from Missouri, who expects to go to the Air Force Academy.
"I want to be a pilot," McCartney said of his planned Air Force career. He expressed a particular interest in jets.
Although that is still his plan, McCartney said Singleton introduced him more to the day-to-day workings of the Air Force, and the growth fields of unmanned aerial vehicles, intelligence, and Singleton's favorite - communications.
"She's just brought an awareness of the internal side of the Air Force," McCartney said. "I've always kind of known about the UAV's, but she's shown me how it is growing."
For her part, Singleton admits that even as a mentor, participating in the Youth Program has taught her something as well.
"I got a chance to get some deeper insight," Singleton said. "Definitely more detail about the Senate than I ever knew."