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Jayhawk AF:
KU cadets are all over the globe - East to Aviano AB Italy watching flights over the Balkans, then North to Alaska seeing the F-15 and RC-135 Reconnaissance birds, and West to Korea where they see the DMZ (not just something in the history books). Closer in we have cadets soaring and free fall parachuting at the Air Force Academy, some take Combat Survival Training (yes, they volunteer for this!), Airborne training at Fort Benning, and many cadets go to stateside bases where they learn first hand what life as a 2nd LT will be like and see the different jobs and great attitudes of our troops and families.
Right now, we have a half dozen soon to be juniors at sunny Lackland AFB near San Antonio TX - our "Gateway to the AF." What a motivational pump! From reading our AF Times and other military oriented magazines, you would believe our enlisted recruits and officers were mentally deficient hamburger flippers, and our next generation officer candidates were wimps. You could not be more WRONG!! I personally saw bright and attractive young men and women responding with pep in their step and some charged up officer candidates who were pushing their limits to perform under pressure. Our Air Force is in good hands. Like I said, if you aren't moved by these motivated kids - you don't have a pulse!
We continue to have KU cadets selected for pilot training get their private pilot's license at Lawrence Airport. Absolutely great program - very cost effective. It's a lot cheaper to learn in a Cessna than a jet trainer and we predict there will be much fewer washouts. We have also added training for Navigators too! Pilot candidates get 50 hours of flying, future navigators get 20. So if you see some eager young college students at the airport, they're probably our fledglings.
We have also added a "Gold Bar" recruiter - 2nd Lt Scott Tragasser. He's a Colorado Buffalo ROTC graduate selected for pilot training. There's a wait, so in the meantime he'll be working as an area recruiter aimed at Kansas City area. If you're looking for a motivated troop to talk to youth, he's it!
Looking forward to a busy fall. Making plans for Veterans Day and our POW/MIA vigil honoring our nation's heroes. We're determined to have a fly-by this year, so start wishing for good flying weather for weekends in November.
US Air Force News:
We have a new Secretary of the Air Force Roche - who with SECDEF Rumsfield is going to make some big decisions about military size and capabilities as we move from a posture of fighting two major theater wars to dealing with the peacekeeping and insurgency roles - jobs other than war - where we're focusing so much of our efforts in the post Cold War era. It will be interesting to see the Congressional reactions across party lines reacting to base closures, probable force reductions, and resolving a missile defense strategy and a military role in space. Ah that we live in interesting times. Enjoy the summer!
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