ROTC cadets shadow Team Vance members

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  Rarely do Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets experience an operational military environment before they are expected to enter active service.
"Their interaction is limited to their commanders and the enlisted Airmen in their detachments," said Capt. Ian Laughrey, Operation Air Force base director.
The Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff have changed this fact by mandating Air Force ROTC units to expose their cadets to the operational Air Force. This program is called Operation Air Force.
"In Air Education and Training Command, it's our privilege to develop America's Airmen today for tomorrow," said Gen. William Looney, AETC commander. "One of the ways we do this is by supporting the Operation Air Force program."
On Monday, Vance began hosting 25 cadets from 25 detachments across the country, according to Captain Laughrey, who is also the 32nd Flying Training Squadron N Flight commander.
"Over the summer, cadets will shadow Team Vance members in two groups," Captain Laughrey said. "The current group will be here until June 24, and the second group will be here June 25 through July 15."
There are also two separate programs within the OAF program - the Rising Seniors and the Rising Sophomores, targeted towards cadets who will attend these grades in the fall. "The seniors have already chosen their career paths and will be mentored by officers in their future Air Force Specialty Codes," Captain Laughrey said. "They will also be working within the flying training squadrons."
Cadet Harold Peralta, Rising Seniors leader from City College of New York, will become a student pilot when he begins his Air Force career. He has enjoyed being part of the program at Vance and requested to come here for his training.
"I want to come to Vance for my training, so I was able to come here as part of the program so I could see what the training is like," he said. "I'm learning things I didn't know, like that there are different parts to the training, and it lets me know where to focus myself for my last year of college."
The sophomores, however, have until their first day of school to make a commitment to the Air Force and choose a career field. Also called the Non-Comm program, the sophomores are exposed to the enlisted perspective of the operational Air Force. At Vance, the group will rotate through 12 different units, where they will be led at each one by a senior NCO.
"The cadets need to see first hand how the Air Force mission is conducted before they have to make a career decision," said Master Sgt. Lee Phillips, 71st Flying Training Wing career assistance advisor. "Today's times demand we match the right leaders in the areas they can be most productive, and what better way to help them make their decision (than this program).
"I enjoyed the opportunity to equip our future leaders. Our job as senior NCOs is to help shape and guide them to be the best leaders possible. Even if I impacted just one, it would have been well worth the effort."
Captain Laughrey said he is appreciative of the support he's received for the program so far.
"Most people are realizing just how important this program is, because it's shaping our future officers," he said. "I know that if anyone is called to support the program, they'll do their best to try to help."
The captain does not intend for the tour to be all work and no play for the cadets however. Several morale, welfare and recreational activities have also been incorporated into the schedule.
"I'm trying to expose them to the full operational Air Force experience," he said. "This includes what they might be doing on or off duty, because some of them are making their career decisions now."