Air Force NewsCol. Kevin McNellis, USAF |
Jayhawk Air Force 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 -135
Reconnaissance birds, and West to Korea where they see up
close that the DMZ ain't 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!) or 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.
This summer, we have 17 KU-AF cadets at sunny
Lackland AFB near San Antonio, TX -- our "Gateway to the
AF." I've run these field-training camps -- you cannot
believe how great the ROTC cadets do when they are not
burdened down by jobs, academic projects, and other
distractions. You'd be amazed and proud. 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 future is in good hands.
We are continuing having KU cadets selected for pilot
training get their private pilot's license at Lawrence Airport
and in Topeka. Absolutely great program -- very cost
effective. It's a lot cheaper to learn in a Cessna than a jet
trainer and there are much fewer washouts. We have also
added training for Navigators, too! Pilot candidates get 50
hours of flying, future navigators get 25. So if you see some
eager young college students with short haircuts at the
airport, they're probably our fledglings.
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Looking forward to a busy fall, we're planning a great
welcome for our largest incoming scholarship class in 10
years. We're also making plans for Veterans Day and our
POW/MIA vigil honoring our nation's heroes. Last year we
coordinated with the numerous Veterans' groups and had one
combined ceremony with speaker Lt Col Barry Bridger -- 6
and a half years in Hanoi. We'll work again this year to have
unified commemoration and a 24-hour vigil.
Change of Command. After an extension for a 4th year, Col
McNellis and Karen are retiring to nearby Prairie Village
where they grew up and dated at age 15! Col Mike Lee, an
Academy grad and a Special Ops C-130 pilot, will be on
board in late July. His wife, Kris, is a native of Lawrence and
her folks' home is here. Jayhawks at heart. Capt Jim Cooper
will escort Mike to the next chapter meeting. Karen and I are
transferring to the Sunflower Chapter that you folks helped
establish. Sincere thanks for all the fellowship and support
to our cadets. Enjoy the summer!
Colonel Kevin McNellis
Credible Sport C-130 Able to leap tall buildings - with lots of rockets!
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