Colorado JROTC cadets take flight with AF Reserve

Tech. Sgt. Crystal Lovato, a member of the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Security Forces Squadron, shows AF Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadet James La Valle a 9mm pistol March 17 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The JROTC member, together with more than 150 other cadets from around Colorado, toured Peterson and the AF Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing, where they learned about unique jobs and opportunities with the AF Reserve. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield)

Colorado JROTC cadets take flight with AF Reserve

High school senior Merry Grayson, an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet from Colorado Springs, Colorado's Sand Creek High School, tries on a protective vest and night vision goggles March 17 during a security demonstration by the AF Reserve's 302nd Security Forces Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The JROTC member, together with more than 150 other cadets from around Colorado, toured Peterson and the AF Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing, where they learned about unique jobs and opportunities with the AF Reserve. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield)

Colorado JROTC cadets take flight with AF Reserve

(Left to right): Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets Matt McCanne, Mark Wiedler and Devon Kren, all Falcon High School students, enjoy a March 17 orientation flight aboard an AF Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft. The three JROTC members toured Peterson Air Force Base and the 302nd Airlift Wing, along with JROTC cadets from six other Colorado schools, where they learned about unique jobs and opportunities with the AF Reserve. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield)

Colorado JROTC cadets take flight with AF Reserve

Published March 18, 2010
By Staff Reports
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 302nd Airlift Wing hosted nearly 175 Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from Colorado Springs and Denver-area high schools for a 'day in the life' learning experience March 17 here.

The day's events included four career seminars and orientation flights aboard the unit's C-130 Hercules aircraft. The day was designed to highlight career and education opportunities within the Air Force Reserve.

"It's important for us to give [the AF JROTC cadets] an avenue to consider," said Col. Jay Pittman, Jr., 302nd Airlift Wing commander. "Today's Air Force Reserve offers many benefits including tuition assistance for college, skills training, camaraderie, growth opportunities, and a life-long career."

The career seminars included presentations from AF Reserve Recruiting, the Reserve Wing's security forces, aircraft maintenance and aviation specialties, as well as space-based operations from the 310th Space Wing, located at nearby Schriever AFB.

The event was organized to provide information to the cadets who are expected to make important career and educational decisions in the near future.

"This was great event. The students were able to participate in activities that we cannot provide in the classroom," said Tech. Sgt. John May, AFJROTC instructor with Gateway High School in Aurora, Colo.

At the day's end, the cadets shared their thoughts on the event and many said they appreciated the information and experiences, especially the opportunity to fly on an AF Reserve C-130. The cadets also noted it was great to learn about opportunities they didn't know existed.

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