The Seattle Seahawks wrapped up their annual 12 Tour over the weekend, stopping Friday, June 7, in the West Plains to tour Fairchild Air Force Base.
Active defensive backs Neiko Thorpe and Tedric Thompson and former defensive back Jordan Babineaux joined Seahawks dancers, staffers and team mascot Blitz to view the facility and get a glimpse at a day in the life of Airway Heights airmen.
Military personnel set up stations for players and staffers to view, letting them try on equipment like air packs and face masks. Thorpe and Thompson both tried on a suit used for emergency water landings, expressing disbelief that airmen could be called upon to tread water in them for long periods of time.
Other stations offered details on emergency medical situations and new psychological tools used by the military to help airmen deal with stress and anxiety through mediation.
Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) program leaders showed players an audio taping meant to help soldiers de-stress, with the equipment actually tracking their brainwaves. The audio can be used along with other methods to mitigate the risk of physical and psychological injury during SERE education and high-risk training activities.
“The most interesting thing for me was talking to the psych team,” Babineaux said. “They use mind techniques that help with mental stimulation…and I’m like, ‘I might want to try that myself.’”
SERE psychology technician Michael Osten said airmen were excited to meet with the Seahawks crew.
“It’s nice to be able to show our work to other people,” Osten said.
Base personnel were able to bring their families to meet the players, who briefly signed autographs and spoke with airmen.
Babineaux said the opportunity to speak with active military demonstrated how “impactful” the Seahawk’s presence in the community really is.
“I once met a soldier in the military who earned a Purple Heart, and he talked about being deployed and his connection to the Seahawks,” Babineaux said. “He still felt like he was at home even though he was so far away and in dangerous territory.”
Later, visitors toured an aircraft, checking out the cockpit and asking airmen about their duties while Thorpe took cellphone photos of the view from the aircraft. Seahawks staff also presented a team flag to base commander Col. Derek Salmi. The 12 Tour was set to continue over the weekend with a visit to Idaho and Silverwood Theme Park.
Even with the constant traveling, players said their visit to Fairchild certainly stood out.
“It’s super interesting,” Babineaux said. “They’re talking about their jobs and their roles and what they have to do — that’s the ultimate teamwork.”
Shannen Talbot can be reached at shannen@cheneyfreepress.com.
Reader Comments(0)