Air Force ROTC Cadets Gain New Experiences from Air Base Visit

AFROTC DET 030

Cadets Sara Rulli, Jaine Amerine, Vashti Smith, Danet Manon, Alyssa McKnight, Charlene Niles, and Marinda Szabo in front of a C-130J at Little Rock Air Force Base.

By Cadet Fourth Class Joshua Snyder

While most University of Arkansas students were either visiting the beach or catching up on sleep over spring break, cadets of Detachment 030 in the University's Air Force ROTC program visited Little Rock Air Force Base to gain applicable experience and insight for their future careers in the United States Air Force.

On Wednesday, March 20, thirty Air Force ROTC cadets arrived at Little Rock Air Force Base for a "base visit" as part of professional development training which, in this case, showcased careers of multiple Air Force officers. This base visit was the first trip to Little Rock Air Force Base for many of the cadets, most of whom live outside the Central Arkansas area. Along with Detachment 030, the University of Missouri Detachment 440 also participated.

One of the most notable features of Little Rock Air Force Base is Heritage Park, an area of decommissioned planes and their history; and a favorite for some cadets who had never seen anything like it before. Prior to entering Little Rock Air Force Base's main gate, one is greeted by a C-130 aircraft utilized as the last evacuation plane out of Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975. "It was my first time there [at Little Rock Air Force Base]," sophomore Cadet Third Class Collin Adams said, "One of the first things I noticed when I arrived was the aircraft, and I learned the history behind them, how each had a purpose for being there, and the stories our public affairs director had to tell about them."

With great help from the public affairs office on base, cadets were able to learn about the qualifications and the rigors that come with some of the more strenuous jobs in the Air Force. Whether participating in firefighter drills, using night-vision goggles, or sitting in the cockpit of a C-130J, the trip was not short on providing fun and fascinating opportunities.

Freshman Cadet Fourth Class Sara Rulli stated, "This trip really just opened my eyes to other specialties within the Air Force that I didn't have prior knowledge about. ... I was able to learn about maintenance, finance, piloting, bomb defusing, air traffic control, and so much more about different fields of the Air Force which was an opportunity that I wouldn't have had otherwise."

Cadets Kye, Wolter, Adams, Philips, Ragsdill, Ahaus and Withers in the control tower.

While the days were long and informational, the cadets were still allowed free time to socialize with others and compete in sporting competitions like bowling, basketball, and ultimate frisbee. Camaraderie and teamwork both serve as some of the most important features of the Air Force, and this visit provided the time and resources necessary to build upon those aspects.

"The visit gave a lot of the flight members time to hang out with each other and to get to know everyone on a more personal level, which will help us operate more like a team instead of individuals," said freshman Cadet Fourth Class Brendon Crow.

Cadets Danet Manon and Charlene Niles give a fist bump inside the cockpit of a C-130 aircraft.

Many great leadership opportunities were presented for the cadets including lunch with several lieutenants, Q&A with high ranking base officials, and the ability to shadow officers, who all demonstrated high levels of decorum towards being a great leader in the U.S. Air Force. Strong role models from the cadet corps, Junior Cadet Colonel Walker Rosenbaum and Junior Cadet Captain Bryan Withers, served as outstanding leaders to Detachment 030 and Detachment 440 cadets, and each man was able to become a better mentor and stated the visit to Little Rock Air Force Base was valuable.

"Being able to talk to the lowerclassmen cadets outside of a real training environment for a few days was very beneficial," Withers said, "I learned a lot about the cadets' personalities that they aren't able to display in a locked-on training environment. ... I believe it helped me be more of a mentor than anything."

Not everyone has the opportunity to get a close-up of their future career so early in college. The visit to Little Rock Air Force Base served as a solid starting point for cadets to become more knowledgeable in the career fields they wish to enter. Detachment 030 is beyond blessed for the opportunity to participate and gain insight that will help create future officers of the United States Air Force.