AFROTC DETACHMENT 825—THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

the LONGHORN AIRMAN

The Longhorn Airman 28 February 2011 Volume III Issue 3 Fall 2010 Commissionees

The James J. Mulva Family , Col Bowman and Det 825 Cadets break ground for the new Liberal Arts AS 300s and the POW-MIA wall saved from flagship building Steindam Hall Ground Won’t “Break”…But POW Honor Wall Back Home Construction Starts on Our New The POW-MIA honor wall is back in Home Anyway its rightful place—our Annie Weatherall With a temperature in the mid-20s and classroom. a wind-chill in the teens, the University Through the craftsmanship and of Texas and contractor team began dedication of UT Project Management & construction on the Longhorn Airmen Construction Services and SpawGlass, future home, the College of Liberal Arts we preserved the “signed portion” of the Building, on Thursday, February 3, 2011. POW-MIA wall from Russell A. Steindam As is tradition for a new construction Hall. On the wall, you’ll find the names site, the College of Liberal Arts hosted a of former POWs and heroes like Chief ceremonial ground-breaking on UT’s East Master Sergeant of the Air Force #1 Paul Mall. Many distinguished guests attended, Airey. Col Jim Lamar’s name is on the to include UT president Bill Powers, wall, too. He signed the wall in 2000 and COLA Dean Randy Diehl, and LTG still lives locally. In fact, he gets his hair cut every two weeks at Junior’s Hyde Park (Ret, USA) Lawson Magruder. Earning “Woodward’s Warriors,” Chris Mesnard and Adam special recognition at the event was Mr Zillweger, commissioned on 17 December 2010. Barber Shop. The Longhorn Airmen hope James J. Mulva and family. Mr Mulva’s After attending Air and Space Basic Course (ASBC) to hear from him again soon…and show generous donation was instrumental in at Maxwell AFB, Lt Mesnard will enter training as a him his “new place” in our heritage. garnering ROTC an honored spot in the Combat Systems Officer (CSO) and Lt Zillweger will Our promise to all former POWs and new building. Air Force, Army, and Naval enter pilot training those still missing in action—Longhorn ROTC detachments will share the top- Airmen will never forget. floor of the facility beginning in January The Boss’ Boss’ Boss’ Boss ~Col Christopher “Mort” Bowman 2013. We will call our collective home Visits Det 825 The James J. Mulva ROTC Center. That really makes my day to know that The event also included some “free not only has the wall been preserved, but chicken.” As might be expected, the call that it's considered Det 825 "heritage." I of “FREE FOOD” brought out the likes already forwarded your email on to several of Cadets Bogard, Cunningham, Hitzfeld, others around the AF that were there that Thorpe, and Vanover (because eating is Friday night to paint the wall and then witness the first six signatures later in the always for cadets). semester. It was definitely very important The Longhorn Airmen are grateful Brig Gen (S) Roger Watkins, Holm Center to all of us. My favorite will always be for the University’s strong and enduring Commander, and his wife, Mrs. Leslie Watkins, Ron Bliss... he became a very good friend support. Even in cold weather, that visited the detachment on 24 January. Cadets from of mine until his death in 2005. ~Capt Robin support is always “On Time & On Target.” all AS classes took the opportunity to meet with the (Prosser) Steenman, class of 2002, former Cadet ~Colonel Christopher “Mort” Bowman Watkinses at Scholz’s Garten. Wing Commander AFROTC DETACHMENT 825—THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AFROTC DETACHMENT 825—THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN the LONGHORN AIRMAN Always Excellent To Cadets The AETC Symposium On January 19 2011, Cadets Temple, Hitzfeld, Machuca, Nandula, Jones, Salazar, and I traveled to San Antonio Texas to attend the Air Education and Training Command Symposium. At the briefing held shortly before the symposium, we were able to ask questions FTP cadets work on the skills and knowledge needed for Field Training of Brig Gen (S) Roger Watkins, the Holm Center Commander. There was also Permission to Recover? a briefing with Col John McCain, the Field Training Preparation is a rigorous semester that challenges cadets both AFROTC commander. physically and mentally. The physical aspect of the program consists of endless sprints, During the symposium, we, along with pushups, sit-ups, and the beloved 8-count body builder. While muscle failure is normally cadets from different detachments around the goal of our physical training sessions, mental preparation and readiness are what get Texas, worked us through these strenuous workouts. For us Field Training candidates, it is important to as support staff. remember that pain is only temporary and that our goal of becoming future officers of We interacted the United States Air Force is completely attainable when we keep a positive attitude and with many active have a willingness to work harder than ever before. duty Air Force When starting the Field Training Preparation semester, there are three things you members and learn quickly. First, mistakes will be made but what separates you from the rest is individuals of how you recover from your blunders. Second, acronyms are to be erased from your private companies vocabulary! Lastly, it is important for your flight to grow cohesively while consistently working directly with the military. In improving. For my flight, we learned how to recover from our blunders with gusto. addition to required events, we attended During one of our first physical training sessions we were told we had no motivation. a total of eight seminars each day and Being the caring flight we are, we interpreted this rule as though we were lacking visited the convention center floor. the motivation our wingmen needed. Cadet Four-Star Hale then took it upon himself On the convention floor, Boeing and to rejuvenate our flight’s lost spirit by pumping us up with a loud “Let’s go!” To our Lockheed Martin had flight simulators surprise, we had entirely misinterpreted the meaning of “no motivation.” But, thanks to to experiment with, and the Air Force our two Directors of Training, the miscommunication was quickly corrected. had booths dedicated to their various If there is one lesson I have learned so far in Field Training Preparation, it is to squadrons. There were also Air Force remain confident in yourself and your peers. This not only applies to this semester, stealth cars in addition to the usual Air but to your Air Force career. Curve balls will be thrown and there will be many times Force recruiting vehicles on site. Even where you feel overwhelmed. At moments like this, it is important to take a step back with all this activity, we had plenty of time and realize the bigger picture. We are a part of the Air Force and would never leave a to enjoy the finest foods the San Antonio wingman behind! ~Sina Heller Riverwalk had to offer. Overall, the Symposium was very beneficial. We learned a lot about different fields within the Air Force as well as recent problems the Air Force has encountered. This experience has given each of us an enhanced perspective of what the Air Force will be like when we become a part of it. ~ Tyler Maness

The Longhorn Airman is published quarterly; it is not an official publication of the USAF, AFROTC or The Univeristy of Texas at Austin; the opinions expressed in this publication do not represent any of these entities. No state or federal funds were used to print this newsletter. The Longhorn Airman was created with Adobe InDesign & PhotoShop software. Masthead photo U.S. Air Force photo by SSgt Brian Ferguson; all other photos by Longhorn Airmen, unless otherwise noted. ~Nan Bradford-Reid, Editor First day in ABUs for the GMC. The Corps gathered at the LBJ drill pad to show off their new uniforms.

Longhorn Airman 2 AFROTC DETACHMENT 825—THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AFROTC DETACHMENT 825—THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN the LONGHORN AIRMAN Career Day (Or: We Like Our Matt LeBlanc Better!) On Thursday, 24 February 2011, the Longhorn Airmen were privileged to host our annual Career Day. Forty-five active duty officers were in attendance from across the state to impart knowledge about their jobs to cadets and share personal words of wisdom. Cadets were exposed to a broad range of careers – ranging from pilot to less well- known fields such as research analysts. For Cadets Espinoza, Burchett, Zarsky, and Lindner the underclassmen, it was an eye-opening before being shot out of the cannon (T-38). experience, they were exposed to opportunities they had not realized were available. Getting Shot Out of A Cannon... Upperclassmen were able to network on a The Air Force Way professional level and learn more about their On 16 December 2010, four cadets own proposed jobs in the Air Force. had the opportunity to experience the Detachment 825 was pleased to welcome We’re Glad You’re Here! thrill of the T-38 during Incentive Flights. back several alumni for this event, including recent graduates, Lieutenants Matt Stalford The Longhorn Airmen welcomed Capt Michael Selected out of the Longhorn Lucky Arguello and his spouse, Vanessa, at the end of and Scott Davis, 2006 grad Captain Hannah Box, Cadets Zarsky, Lindner, Espinoza, November last year. Capt Arguello is the AS McDaniels (née Harris), and Lieutenant 400 instructor and Education Officer. and Burchett traveled to Randolph Air Colonel Steve Smith from the class of 1983. It Force Base where they were greeted by was wonderful to catch up with old friends and members of the 12 FTW. The cadets learn what their early experiences were like in received emergency training and were the USAF. fitted for G-suits while anxiously After short briefings from every career preparing for their 1400 flight time. field and the opportunity to speak with each Shortly after lunch, preflight briefings officer on an individual level, we retired to the detachment for an enjoyable lunch with were conducted, and then it was finally the officers. Rarely does one have the chance time to step onto the flight line and strap to interact with so many officers in a casual on the T-38s. The flights were awesome! setting. The kick of the afterburners was like Overall, the multitude of careers available being shot out of a cannon, and they felt and quality of the presentations combined to make this one of the most successful Career Y+1 (Cadet Yi) “breaks in” our newest instructor. every “G” that pasted them to the seats through the hairpin turns. Days in years. The Longhorn Airmen will Each cadet had a great time, and Cadet not soon forget all of the lessons we learned March Events Zarsky even proclaimed that it might have and opportunities available to us. We are 1—”Wet Down” Categorization Release immensely grateful to all of the volunteers and been the most amazing thing he had ever 8-10—Warrior Week officers in attendance who made this incredible 14-18—Spring Break done. The cadets were thrilled to have experience possible. ~Severin Witte 22-24—President’s Cup gotten “air under their butts” during this 25-26—FTX @ Ft Hood once in a life time opportunity. So get April Events your scores up, get in the Longhorn Lucky 2—AFOQT Box, and get on the next flight out of 3—Taj to Tower Run Randolph Air Force Base! 8—Dining Out ~Thomas J. Burchett 16—Field Day @ Baylor 23—Paintball (tentative) 30—Parade/Open House/Change of Cmd May Events 5—Awards Day 7—Salt Lick/Couch Stories 13—Senior Send-Off 20—Commissioning Keep up with the Longhorn Airmen at www.det825.org/ Opening day at Disch-Falk Field. Cadets Thomas, B. Det 825 Alumni Lt Scott Davis and Capt Hannah Stout, Heller, Weathington, Hitzfeld, and Thorpe. (Harris) Mc Daniels 3 Longhorn Airman AFROTC DETACHMENT 825—THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN the LONGHORN AIRMAN

The new Arnies’ class (kneeling) pledges at AFROTC Cadet Kamencic, AROTC Cadet Fox, Skit Night NROTC Midshipman Tucker, and MAJ Ernest Banasau, USA (ret) (photo courtesy E. Banasau) The “Blue and Gold “ “I never wanted a purple heart” Experiences This past Friday, I had the honor of This semester, Cadet Thorpe and I are attending the Purple Heart association the Directors of Training for Arnold Air banquet with an Army cadet and Navy Society. We supervise the six- to ten-week Midshipman. I spent hours talking to training process Arnold Air candidates veterans who have earned the Purple Heart go through to become active members of while fighting for our Nation and each the society. The purpose of the training other. They could talk your ear off about Words from the Wing King process is to make the candidates more competitive cadets in Air Force ROTC, their experiences; however there is one It was an honor to be selected as Cadet complement training provided in ROTC, thing that stuck out most of all of these Wing Commander and take the reins build camaraderie both within the men and women: their humility. Their from Cadet Forkner. With Cadet Temple candidate class and with active members, stories made me ever more motivated and as Vice Commander and a great Wing and of course, to have fun. proud about joining the greatest military Staff and POC around us, I could not be The training process consists of four on the planet. We wanted to hear all of more “pumped” about the semester ahead. structured hours of training per week: their stories; however all they wanted to Temple and I concocted our wing goals: one hour of physical training, one hour hear was more about us. We were even 93-90-3 and Fit-to-Fight. 93-90-3 means of academic studying, one hour of drill coined for our future service. a minimum 93 PFA, minimum 90% and ceremonies and one hour of "Hangar If you ever feel like you are not sure attendance at all ROTC events, and a 3.0 time." During the training process we why you are in our corps or not feeling too term GPA, but remember: when you say provide additional leadership opportunities motivated about ROTC, go talk to these it, it “sounds like 2 numbers, but it’s 3.” to cadets, enabling them to perform under brave men and women. I assure you, you Fit-to-Fight is a voluntary program any circumstance they will encounter as will have never felt more proud. designed for exercising outside of PT with ~Amela Kamencic cadets and at Field Training. We ensure the goal of raising our PFA scores. We the candidates are always improving and hope to raise the training standards of Det never stagnating. 825 that will ultimately make us all better We participate in many traditions Air Force officers. during training unique to our specific Our list of events this semester grows squadron within Arnold Air and which long as we gear up for the Field Training bring our members closer together. Events Exercise at Fort Hood, Dining Out, Tri- like Skit Night are special and memorable Service Games, Field Day, and Parade/ to every member of the organization. The Open House, to name a few. On top of all candidate semester takes a lot of work but of this, we celebrate the achievements of the training, friendships, and memories our seniors, commissioning our largest will stay with the participants for the rest class of 2d lieutenants since 2006. of their lives. Although the candidate As we enter this busy semester semester may be one of the busiest of a packed with school and organizational college career, we will remember it as our obligations, it is important that we favorite. ~Ralph Castillo How Cold Was It? remember to support and look out for each Cold enough for plaid jammy pants, other. As always, mental and physical Join us for commissioning apparently. Cadet Thorpe reveals the real fitness are prerequisites to any effective 0900 20 May 2011 military career. Keep up the good work! secret to staying warm while wearing a In the Texas Union Ballroom flight suit during cold weather. ~Kevin Stout Longhorn Airman 4