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Cadets learn from Airmen, prepare as future leaders

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Raymond Gobberg
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Nineteen Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets shadowed 27th Special Operations Wing squadrons, learned defensive fighting tactics, practiced marksmanship and repaired the gymnasium of a local children's center. 

This three-week experience, from July 14th to August 2nd, provided the cadets a brief glimpse of how Airmen execute today's mission. The group was also the last of three to visit Cannon this year. 

The cadets, from detachments at universities across the nation, took part in Operation Air Force, a Secretary of the Air Force level Professional Development Training program designed to expose future leaders to the operational Air Force. 

Operation Air Force is one of many PDT programs offered to ROTC and Air Force Academy cadets throughout their undergraduate collegiate career. Cadets spend their time with young officers and enlisted members at bases worldwide and experience, first hand, what each Airman does, said Lt. Col. Gary Carruthers, ROTC Detachment 158 Commander, University of South Florida and cadet supervisor for the third group of cadets at Cannon. 

This specific PDT program is divided into two subcategories: Operation Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer and Operation Air Force Lieutenant. 

ROTC cadets who recently finished their freshman year of college, but haven't yet "signed on the dotted line," participate in Operation Air Force NCO, said Capt. Shaun Parker, 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron. 

Captain Parker, the Operation Air Force point of contact at Cannon, planned and coordinated all activities for the cadets visiting this summer. 

"[Operation Air Force NCO cadets] get an idea of the jobs people do so that they can help to frame their mindset as they go along," said Captain Parker. "[For them], the program goal is to encourage commissioning." 

Operation Air Force Lieutenant is for cadets entering their senior year in college and who already know their Air Force Specialty Code or specific career field. These cadets shadowed a company grade officer to learn what they do, said Captain Parker. 

"The program gives the cadets a chance to see what is expected of Air Force officers, what our responsibilities are and how to deal with the challenges," continued Captain Parker, "They experience what it is like to go to the meetings, discipline troops, the whole nine yards of what it takes to be a United States Air Force officer." 

Despite these differences, the cadets came together to perform several junior enlisted-level tasks while at Cannon. Weekly, they would rotate through the operations, mission support, maintenance, and medical groups, working with NCOs and officers to complete day-to-day tasks. 

"Our goal was to get them as much NCO perspective as possible, get out there, get their hands dirty and meet with the Airmen," said Captain Parker. 

The cadets spent a day at the medical group and received CPR certification, learned small arms and defensive tactics with security forces, helped dig trenches and laid pipes with Civil Engineering and observed an air-to-air refueling aboard a C-130. 

These experiences over the three weeks proved to be extremely beneficial, said Cadet Casey Jones, a senior at North Dakota State University. 

"When my friends who aren't in the military ask me what the Air Force does, I will now be able to tell them exactly what our mission is and how each group contributes," said Cadet Jones. 

In addition to learning how Airmen execute the mission on a daily basis, the cadets took an active role in the local community during their time at Cannon. They spent an entire Saturday completing much-needed light construction work on the grounds of The New Mexico Baptist Children's Home in Portales, N.M. 

They repaired the roof of a gymnasium, performed yard maintenance across the campus and helped secure new panels on a storage facility. 

"We are helping to put a positive face on the Air Force and definitely don't kid when we say service before self," said Cadet Robert Edwards, a sophomore at Virginia Tech University. 

All three Operation Air Force groups that visited Cannon participated in a community service project and learned the benefits and motivations for getting involved in the local community, according to Colonel Carruthers. 

Learning the whole-person concept is crucial, said the Colonel. "[This program] helps take what the cadets learn in the ROTC classroom, and actually put it into perspective so that the core values are not just words on paper. They get to see how our Airmen actually live the core values."




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