JROTC cadets take flight

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
As they begin their journey into real world, and possibly the military, 38 Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from Derby High School were given a view from the top by members of the 350th Air Refueling Squadron Dec. 1, 2011.

The cadets witnessed firsthand the daily operations of McConnell, mainly the air refueling mission on a KC-135 Stratotanker.

The JROTC high school programs introduce students to military custom and courtesy, citizenship in the United States, first aid, wellness, health and fitness, basic drill and ceremonies, effective communications, management, human relations and life in the U.S. military.

While at McConnell, the cadets were first given a mission brief by Airman 1st Class Landon Iverson, a 350th ARS boom operator on the flight. Iverson volunteered to participate in the JROTC mission even though this was his first personal experience with the program.

"I thought it would be nice to work with the kids personally and actually show them what we do every day," said Iverson.

One of the jobs these Airmen do every day includes the in-flight refueling. The receiver for this day was a B-1B Lancer from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Though the pod only houses two extra spot for viewers, each of the 38 cadets were able to view McConnell's main mission.

"This was my first time here and the view I had [in the boom pod] of the land below the boom pod was really cool," said Cadet Lt. Col. Evan Guinn, a 17-year-old Derby High School student.

Unlike most of the cadets visiting McConnell, Guinn is also enlisted in the Kansas National Guard as a combat engineer. He said the visit really opened his eyes up to the career possibilities found in the Air Force, he said.

After the flight, the cadets returned to the 350th ARS auditorium, ready to ask the crew questions about their education and military careers. This type of session is precisely what the program is about, said Col. Michael Dillard, the cadet's commander.
"The whole purpose of JROTC is to recruit officers for the future," said Dillard. "This program is great because it really allows these kids to think about what's available to them."

Though the goal of the tour was to present the Air Force mission to the cadets, there was another goal reached that the group had not expected.

"This was an awesome opportunity to show local high school student, and possible leaders of the Air Force what our mission here is," said Capt. Tyler Smith, 350th ARS pilot and the main organizer of the tour. "The best part of the day was seeing how excited they were after the flight."