Students Held Video Call With Air Force Squadron

Children at a Wilmington elementary school connected with service members stationed overseas on September 14, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Military

Students Held Video Call With Air Force Squadron

Students at New Horizons Elementary School in Wilmington held a video conference with an Air Force unit known as the Mad Hatters on September 14, 2026. The exchange followed a project where students sent letters of appreciation to the squadron.

Why it matters

The interaction was organized to help students understand military service and express support for service members. The school director initiated the project to share insights into the service of her stepson, Capt. Joe Jacobs.

The school-led outreach initiative involved correspondence and a live video call with members of an active duty F-15 squadron. Data regarding the specific mission parameters of the three jets involved in the March 2026 deployment remains classified.

The players

Capt. Joe Jacobs

He is an F-15 Weapons Systems Officer who serves with the Mad Hatters squadron.

New Horizons Elementary School

This educational institution is located in Wilmington and facilitated the student interaction with the Air Force.

Mad Hatters

This is the nickname of the U.S. Air Force squadron that engaged with the students.

Henry Barmore

He is a kindergartner at the school whose artwork was featured on the squadron's official T-shirts.

The details

The squadron honored the students by incorporating a drawing of a duck by kindergartner Henry Barmore into their official team T-shirts. Capt. Joe Jacobs, a Weapons Systems Officer, later presented a shirt signed by the crew to the young artist.

Capt. Joe Jacobs first entered the school director's life 25 years ago.
The school director discussed Capt. Jacobs' service with students in March 2026.
Students held the video conference with the squadron on September 14, 2026.

Political Context

This program aligns with the Department of Defense's Operation Gratitude community outreach framework which encourages direct engagement between service members and local populations. Critics of such programs often argue that schools should remain neutral ground and worry about the potential for military influence on young students.

The school program highlights the ongoing presence of U.S. service members in global conflict zones. Local parents may notice increased discussion about military affairs in classrooms as a result of these community-led outreach efforts.

The takeaway

Engaging students in direct correspondence with active-duty personnel can foster a deeper understanding of current events and military service. Educators interested in similar projects should coordinate through official Department of Defense community relations channels.