Junior force braves 40-below temperatures at climatic lab

Published Dec. 15, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
Team Eglin Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The over-sized temperature gauge outside the McKinley Climatic Laboratory typically piques the curiosity of the thousands of people who pass by while driving west on Eglin Boulevard on a daily basis.

The inquisitiveness comes into play when the temperature gauge reads over 120 or under -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

"Where else are you going to go in Florida and play in the snow," said King Molder, a test engineer at the climatic lab. "It's the gee whiz factor of temperatures that peaks people's interest to visit the lab.

This passing interest became a reality for a group of Eglin Junior Force Council members when they took advantage of an opportunity to explore the lab while the temperatures were at -40 degrees as part of an their program "Eglin Exploration."

"Everyone who drives by it knows what the temperature is inside," said 1st Lt. Heidi McMinn, a council member from the 96th Medical Support Squadron. "You can't help but look at it when you pass by it. You never know what exactly is going on in there, but that they are doing something."

During their visit Dec. 11, they learned the rumors are true; every aircraft in the current Department of Defense inventory has undergone testing in the climatic lab. Conceived during World War II and completed in 1947, the site provides facilities for all-weather testing of weapons and ancillary equipment to ensure their function regardless of climatic conditions. The laboratory can recreate nearly every weather condition that exists on Earth with temperatures ranging from more than 180 down to minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

"It was seriously cold in there," said Staff Sgt. Crystal Taylor, 96th Air Base Wing command chief assistant. "But it's an incredible experience to see such an important part of the Air Force mission and history up close and personal."

The grey concrete floors and high ceilings of the hangar style lab engulfed the visitors with the cold temperatures. A C-130 Hercules was undergoing cold weather testing on some equipment upgrades and sat in the middle of the room. Within minutes, the temperature started to overtake the group as ice began forming on their gloves. The group could only stand about five minutes as they started to make their way in the warmer room they started in.

Under the Eglin Explorations program, which are visits to different areas of Eglin to educate the junior force on Eglin's various missions, 20 individuals were able experience the cold temperatures inside the lab.

"This is a great program," Lieutenant McMinn said. "Most people don't get exposed to much outside of their work centers. This allows Airmen to actively seek the unique missions on Eglin."

Airman 1st Class Andrew Harpole, 96th Communications Group project manager, is one of those Airmen who enjoys opportunities to go outside his work center and explore. The Nashville, Tenn., native with less than a year in the Air Force looks out of his window and sees the lab from his office every day. He said he has wondered what it was like inside ever since he arrived at Eglin.

"I would have never been able to do something like this in my job," he said. "This program opens your eyes to a bigger Air Force picture. There's a lot more to the Air Force than communications, though we do have a vital role."

So far, the EJFC has set up exploration trips to the Air Force Research Laboratory's Taconi Room, 96th Security Forces Squadron's Military Working Dog Training Compound and the Eglin air traffic control tower.

"We continually look for ways to educate, mentor, train and garner experience for Team Eglin's junior force," said Col. Arnie Bunch Jr., Air Armament Center vice commander. "Today's junior force is tomorrow's senior leaders. We must build their experience base now so they are well prepared to step into not only Team Eglin but also Air Force leadership roles in the future."

The Junior Force Council

The Eglin Junior Force Council was established under the direction of the AAC commander to provide recommendations in the areas of force development, deployment, employment, environment and other mission related matters at the discretion of the membership or the AAC leadership.

"The overall mission of the council is to provide junior force members the means to develop personally and professionally," Sergeant Taylor said, president of the EJFC. "We try to get our young and impressionable Airmen and civilians out there to see and experience more of the Air Force than just their work centers."

To date, the Eglin Junior Force Council has provided multiple career development, personal development and mentoring programs. Like the Eglin Explorations program, the council has developed other career development programs to include a Senior Leader Book Forum, Resume Workshop, a "How to Buy and Sell a Home" seminar and an Education and Training workshop. One of the most popular mentoring programs offered is the Shadow Day program in which junior force personnel get the opportunity to shadow a senior leader for a day.