Det 270 Wildcat Warriors Summer 2010 Newsletter

CC’s Corner Involvement within the Cadet Wing is an easy way to Hello Cadets, Alumni and Friends of Det 270, stand out among your peers. A positive attitude can The Wildcat Warriors had a busy summer. carry an individual. One of my favorite quotes is Details are included below but here are some from Ralph Marston, a 1920's professional football highlights. We said “Farewell” to two cadre members player, “Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.” and “Welcomed” a new Commandant (COC), Good luck this Fall Semester and remember my Recruiter (UAO) and Personnel NCOIC. We sent and door is always open. graduated 13 from Field Training and had cadets ADAM L. MCKEE, Captain, USAF across the CONUS, in Europe and Asia on summer Commandant of Cadets training programs. Further, several cadets chipped-in and made improvements to the Cadet Lounge, Recruiter’s Pitch AFROTC stairwell, our supply room, and to the Det’s Wildcats, website. This semester is one of great transition and As the summer draws to a close, cadre and great potential. For some of you, like myself, this is a cadets alike are energetically engaged in first two new beginning. For others (the seasoned cadets), it is weeks of the fall semester. Plans are underway for an getting close to an end. I received my commission AFB Visit, fund raising, LLAB Guest Speakers, through Air Force ROTC at Oklahoma State attending the USAF marathon, and visiting University and love all that this program stands for. McConnell’s Air Show to see the Thunderbirds. If Along with my fellow cadre, I am excited to see how you’re in the area and have the time, please call and/or we can make Det 270 and its cadets reach their true stop by; the cadets always enjoy talking and visiting potential. with KSU grads/Det alums. Go Cats! I have the honor of teaching the Freshmen and Very Respectfully, new POCs and serving as the Unit Admissions Lt Col Ed “Oscar” Meyer, USAF Officer. My active duty background is in Aircraft Maintenance at Grand Forks AFB, ND…a career field where it’s imperative to lead both from the front and Commandant’s View by example. This is the standard I hold for myself, Wildcat Warriors, my troops and now my students. It is a privilege and honor to join AFROTC Det I look forward to getting to know each and 270! A sincere welcome to KSU's new and seasoned every one of you during the next 3 years. In the AF cadets for the Fall 2010 semester; I am eager to words of a great military leader, General George begin working together and serving as your Patton “Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way.” Commandant of Cadets. I am confident our cadre- Here’s to a great year, Go Cats! cadet team will produce positive results for the Cadet Wing and local community. MALLORY A. CONLON, 1Lt, USAF My family and I PCS'd from Beale AFB, CA, Unit Admissions Officer where I served four years as a Force Support Officer. As an AFROTC graduate myself, I have deep respect What’s Inside for this program and am committed to producing great -Field Training……………………..………………Pgs 2-3 -PDTs……………………………..………………..Pgs 3-6 officers for the world’s best Air Force! --NRO…………….………………………………...Pg 3 As the semester unfolds keep in mind three --FERL – Free Fall – STO/CRO………….…….. …Pg 4 important things: grades, involvement, and attitude. --Space Operations………………………..…….…..Pg 5 An AFROTC career is made or broken by grades; -Operation Air Force (Ops AF)……………………....Pgs 5 make sure you do all you can to achieve your --Kadena-Kirtland-Dyess-McChord……..…………Pg 5 academic goals and maximize your potential. --Elmendorf …………………………..…………….Pg 6 -Benefactors Thank You………………………………Pg 6 Cadet Ashton L., AFROTC CTA, Mike Flight Maxwell 3 (Jun-Jul 10) Field Training/AFROTC Summer Camp Cadet Trainee Perspective CTA Experience Maxwell 1 Being a Cadet Training Assistant (CTA) was Although all of us attended Max-1 together, it is the most rewarding thing I have done to date in Air safe to say we each had a different and unique Force ROTC. If you get this chance, do not turn it experience. We all had different people evaluating down. and instructing us. Cadet Rhoades endured a flight All CTAs arrived 1 week before the cadet delay enroute which led to a late Maxwell arrival and trainees of their respective Maxwell Camp. This first therefore some special attention when he did arrive. week was used to train all Field Training (FT) staff Luckily, the other three of us arrived on time and had mbrs. We standardized training processes, established a smooth first few days at Maxwell. We all got to do goals, and set trainee standards. This was done so the “normal” awesome FT things (C-17 flight, shoot each trainee would receive a common FT experience. M-16s, Combatives), and experienced firsthand what If you think being a CTA is fun duty, without true teamwork and leadership really means. question it is! However, the amount of work required All of us thought we were well prepared for FT. to properly prepare for CTA duty greatly exceeds that Although our Det270 spring semester cadet trainers of being a FT trainee. CTA’s are held to a high did not tell us what to expect every minute of Field standard, have greater responsibility, and must have a Training, we had a good idea what to expect when we higher level of knowledge in all areas. CTAs are stepped off the bus at Maxwell. We learned rather responsible for a significant portion of the trainees quickly how to adapt to adversity and how to be training. CTAs must know the rules and regulations flexible. and be sharp on all drill and ceremony and customs One area which would have aided us a little and courtesies. Each CTA must be the epitome of a more was the importance of followership and how to role model for all cadet trainees. Despite this, the exercise proper followership in a team or small group. reward and experience far out ways the time and A couple of us did not fully understand what effort cost. “followership” meant before FT and had a steep Arriving at Maxwell AFB prepared to be a CTA learning curve. is very important. It is amazing all the little things There were some “fun” moments at FT; yet, fun one notices that are slightly incorrect or horribly is not how we would describe our time at Maxwell 1. wrong. The most common error made was the It was a very challenging and rewarding experience. wording of a command. I was particularly disciplined We enjoyed FT immensely because it helped us and hard on myself to ensure all commands I called determine who we are as individuals and what we’re were spoken correctly and all orders were given capable of accomplishing when placed in difficult intelligently. situations under pressure. One of the neatest things a CTA sees at FT is Max-1 FT was rough and tough, but we are the performance of many individuals under extreme absolutely convinced we became stronger people and pressure, their predictable “collapse”, and then better cadets for successfully completing the training. ultimate transformation into a team that has bonded and then succeeds. This entire process of Forming, Cadets Matt H., Marc M., Joseph M., & Justin R., Storming, Norming, and Performing is clearly evident AFROTC throughout FT. Unfortunately, there are some trainees who are Maxwell 2 unable to make it out of the storming phase. These FT was a major step in our officer candidate trainees are sent home and disenrolled from Air Force training and development. It taught us a little about ROTC. Other reasons trainees washout of FT include ourselves (strengths, weaknesses, and character) and inappropriate conduct, failing their physical fitness offered a glimpse of active duty life. More test, height/weight check, or not meeting other tough importantly, it provided us an indication of how we standards. This elimination process happens every might react and respond as leaders when placed in camp but those who succeed should be proud of their stressful situations. Finally, we saw and were able to accomplishment and know they have reached the next compare ourselves (and in general all K-State step toward becoming an officer in the world’s AFROTC cadets) with cadets nationwide. greatest Air Force. Although we were well prepared for FT, it was opening ceremonies of the 31 July game against the exponentially more mentally and emotionally Baltimore Orioles. challenging than physically; this caught us off guard. This was the first time any of us had performed Throughout the experience we were fortunate to make on a baseball field. Fortunately, this limitation didn’t numerous new friends while creating lasting diminish our performance or require any special or memories. tricky maneuvers. When our detail was finished we Without question, our FT experiences and were luckily granted free admission to the game. lessons will definitely make us better AF leaders and Overall, it was a great experience and a better individuals. wonderful opportunity to showcase the AF, AFROTC, Det 270, and Manhattan. Thank you to Cadets Jones, Cadets Kathryn B., Ben B., Tyler L., and Jaelyn M., Maier, Mollenkamp and Simonson for making this AFROTC event an unqualified success. EMAW!

Maxwell 3 Cadet Matthew H., AFROTC Without a doubt FT was the most stressful, Commander, Honor Guard (Fall 2010) exciting, and rewarding experience thus far in our lives; it helped us grow as cadets. The best part, by Professional Development Training (PDT) far, was the team problem-solving that took place all the time. Any and all tasks put in front of us were National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) always a challenge. These difficulties helped change This PDT provided AFROTC & service and mold us and individuals and our respective flights academy cadets the chance to gain valuable insight starting on Training Day 1. into some of the NRO’s operations. The NRO Some of our FT lessons learned that have specializes in innovative overhead intelligence manifested themselves into near-term goals include: systems for national security and the analysis and improve our physical strength and endurance (to earn dissemination of the data procured from these the cadet Physical Fitness award) and aggressively systems. continue to plan and support Det 270’s community My assignment was within the Operation service activities this fall. Product Quality department at the East Aerospace FT also gave us a better understanding of what Data Facility. I was issued a project that required me many deployed service members encounter in to analyze imagery of various locations using an overseas locations like Iraq and Afghanistan. While experimental technique. While performing this duty I many of the simulated deployment exercises were incorporated various programs (e.g. MATLAB) in an routine there were several that challenged our attempt to automate the experimental image analysis leadership and followership skills. technique. Overall, FT was the best time we ever had that During my time in Washington DC I had the we never want to have again. Despite all of the good fortune to tour the White House, the Pentagon, yelling and harping we received from cadre and CTAs and the Central Intelligence Agency’s headquarters. I alike, the experience was very rewarding and one in was also able to participate in Meet & Greets with which we were proud to partake. In closing, we distinguished NRO personnel. would like to compliment the 2010 spring semester I am FT Sq staff for the outstanding job they did to prepare very us for Max-3. Without their guidance and instruction privileged and we would’ve been hard pressed to successfully honored to complete the program. have been one of nine Cadets Jesse F. and Christopher S., AFROTC applicants selected Honor Guard among 700 Det 270 Honor Guard got an early start this fall AFROTC when it was invited to present the colors at a KC cadets Royals baseball game this summer. Every year, a nationwide to local Manhattan radio station hosts “Manhattan Day at participate in this prestigious program. I am excited I the K” to recognize and support the good people and was exposed to areas that related to my desired AFSC students of our fair city. We were asked to represent (Cyberspace), my KSU degree, and my personal the Det, the USAF and the city of Manhattan during interests. executed the remaining four jumps needed to earn the Cadet David T., AFROTC Basic Parachutist badge. Although not everyone who attends Free Fall Field Engineering and Readiness Lab (FERL) earns the parachutist badge, just completing part of FERL summer training consisted of two parts, the training and experiencing the program increases two weeks of Operation Civil Engineering Air Force one’s self confidence. Since training only simulates followed by an actual FERL the final three weeks. real-world to a certain degree, each trainee must My flight had the privilege of visiting Anderson AFB, overcome their fear, trust their training, and execute to Guam for our Ops trip. While there we toured every the best of their ability. The AF Academy Free Fall is CE and Red Horse related facility and construction but one great example of this. site to include Explosive Ordinance Disposal and the base Fire Station. We learned how a CE squadron Cadet Alexander C., AFROTC works solo, or in concert with other engineering units, Commander, Operations Group (Fall 2010) to accomplish the mission. We also learned about the Special Tactics Officer (STO)/Combat Rescue various tasks of each CE shop and how they Officer (CRO) coordinate and work together. This PDT was an excellent opportunity; it After Ops on Guam we returned to Colorado enabled me to visit the home of AF Special and stayed at Jacks Valley on the AF Academy’s Operations and AFSOC. During the first of two grounds. This part of FERL was the hands-on learning weeks at Hurlburt Field, FL I trained in the pool, of real-life engineering practices. We attended class utilized their workout equipment, and had Q&A all day, five days a week (which included quizzes & sessions with active duty special operators. I also had tests), studying a variety of topics that included the chance to observe both free fall and static line concrete/ steel design and construction, surveying, parachute training jumps. water treatment, heavy equipment operations, and Week two was spent on AFSOC’s side of the base, much more. meeting and talking with those who had been in the Overall, FERL was a great learning experience career field for years. I also toured many AFSOC that provided excellent hands-on training. Cadets aircraft to include the AC-130 Gunship and MC-130 who attended got dirty and could see in action, and Combat Talon. My PDT also had the good fortune to put into practice, what was being taught. receive a static display and walk-thru of a CV-22 Osprey and its training simulator. Cadet Benjamin B., AFROTC Overall, this PDT was an amazing chance to see Commander, Mission Support Group some of the latest and greatest of the AF's elite SpecOps career fields. It increased my motivation to Free Fall earn an invitation to join this unique brotherhood. Air Force Academy Free Fall was easily the most Cadet Nathan T., AFROTC fun I’ve Inspector General experienced Space Operations so far while This past June, I joined 24 cadets from across wearing the the US for one week at Vandenberg AFB to learn uniform. My about the AF’s space and missile defense missions. class of 35 During this week we received daily briefings from ROTC cadets officers who represented a wide variety of space and and one AF missile AFSCs. We also toured a few of the training TSgt spent 30 simulators and an Atlas V rocket that will launch a hours in three days at the Academy’s Ground Training satellite into space this fall. Facility learning how to properly wear the parachute The most exciting part of the week, and easily harness, safely exit the airplane, properly arch, the highlight of the training, was watching a quickly execute correct emergency action procedures Minuteman Missile test-launch. Sadly, this PDT during the fall, and safely contact the ground and land. lasted only one week. On the fourth day each of us experienced simulated Overall, my summer TDY was an excellent free fall via a vertical wind tunnel located in Denver. training event. It increased my desire to serve in the That same afternoon we returned to the Academy, AF, and possibly the space and missile career fields. It boarded Twin Otter aircraft and experienced our first also provided me the opportunity to meet and network jumps. Over the next several days each of us with other AFROTC cadets and a few active duty This brought us closer together, formed a bond among officers in the Space Ops business. us, and demonstrated the strengths and benefits of diversity within the AF. Cadet Mark B., AFROTC These cadets were exposed to many items that had little or no importance to them, but as the Wg/CV Operation Air Force (OpsAF) at McChord AFB commented, “It’s not meant for you to see, but for it to be seen by you.” This statement Kadena AB emphasized the criticality that visiting cadets need to During our trip to Kadena AB on the be exposed to all aspects of the AF. island of Okinawa, Japan we saw many things Some of exciting activities were a CV-22 night other cadets won’t see until they commission. flight that included a C-17 airdrop mission. C/Mears We toured many parts of the base and some of flew on a C-17 airdrop training mission while us were lucky enough to receive an F-15E Strike C/Whitham got a C-130 flight. C/Gayer rounded-out Eagle orientation flight. the quartet with a T-38 orientation flight. One of the best parts of the PDT was a In summary, each of us enjoyed our experiences flight on a C-130 airlift aircraft. We were and will carry and apply the knowledge we learned assigned a sortie that included a paratrooper drop with us as cadets and into active duty as 2d Lts. but their mission was scrubbed at the last minute due to weather. Upon hearing this, the pilot Cadets Myla G., Timothy M., David M., & Quincy began to RTB and while enroute, over the W., AFROTC Pacific Ocean, descended to 100 ft and opened the aircraft’s ramp. Some of us were able to sit on the ramp; this was one of the most enjoyable parts of our visit to Kadena AB. Other interesting things we did included a tour of Kadena’s massive weapons depot, flying the F-15 aircrew flight simulators, and a Q&A with a veteran F-15 pilot. The flight simulator gave us a greater appreciation of the difficulty to fly and employ a fighter aircraft. Col Wolfe’s comments were very inspiring, and motivating. One of the biggest things that we took away from this PDT was the difference between enlisted and officer jobs. Most of the officers’ jobs revolve around leadership while the enlisted airmen do most all of the manual labor/”dirty work”. A common and recurring theme from several officers we met and spoke with was the need to take care of the people who work under you. These officers constantly described our enlisted airmen as “overworked and underpaid”.

Cadets Joseph J. and Nick S., AFROTC

Dyess-Holloman-Kirtland-McChord AFBs Several cadets visited the bases listed above this summer in June and July (Dyess-C/Quincy W., Holloman- C/Myla G., Kirtland-C/Timothy W., McChord-C/David M.); these are there stories and observations. Each cadet attendee enjoyed their visit experience and is eager to earn their commission and serve on active duty, hopefully with some of the same people they met on their trips. A previously unidentified benefit of this PDT was meeting cadets from across the US and sharing a common experience. It was amazing to sit back and watch the teamwork in Elmendorf AFB action. It was also interesting to learn a little about There is very little I can say that I how the AF patrols/defends our northern frontier. didn't like about my trip (except for the Finally, I also participated in an EME temperature, the warmest day rose to just 72 degrees). (Emergency Medical Exercise) and observed how the My favorite part of the visit was when our group was entire base responds to a real disaster. The scenario split and sent to different units. I met a few aircraft was an F-15 crash into a loaded C-17 (which I was maintenance (Mx) officers and I was able to walk the inside). I was amazed at how fast the firefighters & flight line and see the different aircraft. This visit EMS personnel responded. Again, the teamwork really opened my eyes to what a Mx officer does on a employed to treat the "wounded" and get them to the daily basis. I also particularly noticed the amount hospital was astounding. leadership and responsibility that Mx officers and enlisted maintainers must have to get the job done. Cadet Austen M., AFROTC I also had the opportunity to fly in an E-3 and got to ask the crew several questions as they worked. Donors to the Wildcat Warriors / Det 270 / Aerospace Studies Department 1 August 2009 – 31 July 2010 ~ Thank you to one and all for your support! ~

Gifts $1,000 - $2,499 CORPORATE GIFTS Andy Burris, USAF Lockheed Martin Scholarship Foundation James (Col, USAF; Ret) & Eunice Kyle Living Trust Gifts $500 - $999 Accounting & Payroll Services, Inc.Capt Gen/Mrs Dick & Mary Jo Myers, USAF (Ret) Maj Gen Harvey McCarter, USAFR (Ret) Gifts $250 - $499 Capt Andy Burris, USAF Dr/Mrs Nathan & Connie Burroughs Lt Col/Mrs Neil & Christine Neaderhiser, USAF Gifts $100 - $249 Mr/Mrs James & Mary Ann Grimm Gifts $50 - $99 Mr/Mrs Dennis & Vickie Lohman Lt Col/Mrs Michael & Karen Kaiser, USAF (Ret) Mr Robert Williams Col/Mrs Bruce & Nancy Peters, USAF (Ret) Lt Col/Mrs Glenn & Linda Caldwell Jr., USAF (Ret) Brig Gen/Mrs Randy & Irmgrad Gelwix, USAF (Ret) Mr Bud Cowan Mr Robert Vogt Mr/Mrs Dennis & Carola Deschner Mr/Mrs Martin & Donna Neff Capt/Mrs James & Shannon Hodgson, USAF Mr/Mrs Lawrence & Virginia Propp Jr. Lt Col/Mrs Jerry & Cheryl Lobb, USAFR Lt Col/Mrs Kenneth & Janice Shobe, USAF (Ret) Lt Col/Mrs Don & Carol Kissinger, USAF (Ret) 1Lt Megan Enns, USAF Mr/Mrs Tom & Sherry Jackson Lt Col/Mrs Brad & Anne Hebing, USAF (Ret)

Gifts up to $49 Mr/Mrs Stuart & Kelli Littlefield Mr/Mrs Michael & Heather Lacy Mr/Mrs Russ & Christy Wilson CDR/Mrs Richard & Margaret Hartman, USN (Ret) Mr/Mrs Steven & Pamela Coloney Lt Col/Maj Brian & Cydney Willis, USAF/USAF (Ret/Ret) Capt/Mrs Nathan & Ellen Greene, USAF (Ret)