21 spartan warrior...spartan warrior afrotc detachment 380 | issue #3 2 current event: the u.s. air...

SPARTAN WARRIOR AFROTC DETACHMENT 380 Issue #3 21

Spartan Warrior

AFROTC Detachment 380

“INNOVATIVE TEAM INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION TO INTEGRITY, SERVICE, AND EXCELLENCE” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017

We are already one semester closer to accomplishing our dream of becoming officers in the World’s Greatest Air Force! Whether you’re a freshman, a senior, or anywhere in between, that should feel pretty dang good!

Your Fall Semester 2017 Public Affairs Section has been honored to satisfy many of your AFROTC media

needs throughout the semester. We hope you enjoyed looking through all the pictures on Facebook, reading the Spartan Warrior, and watching the end-of-semester video as much as we enjoyed putting it all together!

We congratulate C/Col (select) Panetta on receiving the promotion to Cadet Wing Commander for Spring Semester 2018, and we look forward to seeing what he and his staff have in store for us next semester! We also hope to see all of you come back to experience the new year with us.

That said, this final issue of the Spartan Warrior wraps up FS17 by covering the events of November and December, while providing you USAF news, select interviews, and more! The cadets of AFROTC have done a lot over the past month, so please sit back, relax, and relive some of the

best moments of this semester! 😊

#GoodbyeFS17… #HelloSS18 From the Editor: C/Col Jesse Alcaraz, Public Affairs Officer

IN THIS ISSUE… • #GoodbyeFS17… #HelloSS18.….....1

• Current Event: Firing of the Thunderbirds Commander…….……2

• Thanksgiving Dinner at WMU……...2

• From the Outgoing Wing King: A Reflection…..……….…………...….…..3

• Ever Wonder What It’s Like to Be Alt LLAB Officer? C/1Lt Wymer Fills Us In………………………………………..…..3

• Cadre Interview: SSgt McNeal……..4

• Cadet Interview: C/Stephanie S. Richey……………………………….……..5

• Community Relations………………...6 o What’s New With SEDT? o Bek Squadron Welcomes the

Newest Members of Arnold Air Society

o Bek Squadron: An Update

• AFROTC Through Pictures…………..7

UPCOMING EVENTS… • Cadet Change of Command

o LLAB 13

• Holiday Party o LLAB 13

• Winter Break!!! o 16 Dec 17 – 7 Jan 18

Cadet

Salimon

enjoying

FLX

SPARTAN WARRIOR AFROTC DETACHMENT 380 | Issue #3 2

The U.S. Air Force announced that it had fired the commander of the Thunderbirds, Lt. Col. Jason Heard, on November 29th.

The reasoning for the firing was because Brig. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, commander of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, felt that Lt. Col. Jason Heard was not the right leader to “ensure the highest levels of pride, precision and professionalism within the team.” A major reason for Lt. Col. Heard’s firing was not about the two Thunderbird crashes that happened since the summer of 2016, but rather because of his “risk management style.”

Maj. Ray Geoffroy states that “[w]hile he led a highly successful 2017 show season featuring 72 demonstrations over 39 show sites, concerns arose that his approach to leading the team was resulting in increased risk within

the demonstration, which eroded the team dynamic.”

The Thunderbirds fly very close to one another, so it is a very dangerous show, and when risk management is questionable, planes can crash, and people can get killed. That is something that nobody wants to happen at an airshow which is supposed to be fun and entertaining.

I remember seeing the Thunderbirds in Oshkosh, WI and it was a spectacular show; the F-16s get unbelievably close to one another, making safety practices and risk management a huge priority.

Source: Miller, Kent. 2017. “Air Force Thunderbirds commander relieved.” AirForceTimes. Retrieved from https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/11/29/air-force-thunderbirds-commander-relieved/

Current Event: Firing of the Thunderbirds Commander by C/4c Thomas Jennett, Hotel Flight

Thanksgiving Dinner at WMU by C/4c Ben Miller & C/4c Matt Hebert, Echo Flight

As the fall semester began winding down, cadets started to notice a rumbling in their tummies – a hunger only tamed by turkey! With

cadets from Western Michigan University as our gracious hosts, Det. 380 had a Thanksgiving dinner for the books.

Cadets from all around began to make the pilgrimage to WMU, bringing food for the others to gobble up. The dinner consisted of various yummy dishes, including green bean casserole, fruit salad,

and pumpkin pie. While the cadets were warm and cozy inside enjoying the scrumptious food, C/4c Lasal was outside hard at work.

Deep-frying a turkey in the middle of WMU’s campus and fighting against a thunderstorm is no easy task, but as they say, nothing’ll

stop the U.S. Air Force!

With winter break quickly approaching, there’s one thing for sure –

we’re all thankful for the wonderful cadets of Detachment 380! 😊

Lt. Col. Jason Heard was relieved of

command of the Thunderbirds on 29 Nov.

Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force Air

Demonstration Squadron, 57th Wing

Cadets enjoying an early Thanksgiving

dinner in the cadet area at Western

Michigan University


Howdy, Detachment 380!

I can quite honestly say that I was nervous coming into this role as Wing Commander, but my excitement for it was even greater. Detachment 380 has been my home for nearly four years now, and my favorite part has always been the moment I get to meet the new freshmen, who are looking to start this crazy, fun journey that we call ROTC. I have had the opportunity to be a part of your development, and I have loved every minute of it, and that’s why I couldn’t imagine being Wing Commander any other semester.

I had a goal this semester of finding the balance between getting the necessary training each cadet needs while also trying new and exciting labs. Through this, I hoped that we could create a family dynamic within the wing. We should always respect our superiors and learn from them, but what says we can’t have fun and get to know our POC personally as GMC? I would like to think that we were extremely successful in doing all this. There are always ups and downs to leadership, but I will proudly walk away from this semester satisfied with what we were able to accomplish. I enjoyed getting to

know each of you and watching your development throughout the semester. I could not have been able to do any of this without all your hard work and participation. I am not alone; as together, we all run this cadet wing.

As we move forward into semesters to come, I implore you all to continue working hard and improving each day. Continue studying your Warrior Knowledge, continue practicing your marching, continue making those greetings to your superiors, and continue finding that line of professionalism and fun. You can always make a

difference in this detachment, so don’t stop participating, and don’t stop sharing your thoughts and ideas, no matter what AS year you are! It won’t always be easy while in ROTC, so don’t ever forget why you are here and what you are fighting for.

I have loved every minute this semester as Wing Commander. It was an honor to lead the greatest cadets in all of Air Force ROTC. I thank you all for an incredible semester and getting to know you all. I am so proud of what we accomplished this semester and can’t wait to see the great things to come. I have never felt more at home before. Welcome to

the family, everyone! 😊

From the Outgoing Wing King: A Reflection

by C/Col Kyle Wilcox, Wing Commander

Ever Wonder What

It’s Like to Be Alt

LLAB Officer? C/1Lt Wymer Fills Us In

by C/1Lt Noah Wymer, Alternate Leadership Laboratory Officer

Alt LLAB Officer is a very interesting job, as you oversee everything that happens during it. It is very flexible and requires a greater level of creativity to meet the training objectives throughout the semester. As the semester progressed, I looked for ways to improve training. Due to the amount of people, there are many chances for one-on-one mentorship which can greatly help cadets on areas of improvement. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to do a little bit of everything, as it has made me more comfortable leading and being a mentor.

When it came to training, it was a challenge to tailor to the needs of each cadet, as I had a range of 100s to grandpas. Each week I learned more about each person and made sure they were all getting involved and helped them where they needed it. Often, 100s were exposed to LEAD/Field Training activities such as dorm maintenance and DFAC procedures, while higher level cadets started from the basics on marching and worked all the way up. With training, I tried to find ways to make things more hands on, so I would bring in shirts and socks or anything correlating with the objectives.

The flexibility aspect of Alt LLAB is planning and executing a variety of activities on your own. I would try to attend regular LLAB as much as I could to see how those activities could be modified to fit a small group of people. When planning, it was important to think each thing through, and develop back-up plans to meet objectives.

For being a first semester POC, this position is outstanding for getting exposure to a little bit of everything. I feel readier to take on more responsibilities due to what I have

done. 😊


Who or what motivated/inspired you to

Cadre Interview: SSgt McNeal by C/4c Brian Walrad, Hotel Flight

- What are your typical daily responsibilities working for the detachment?

The main thing is just to ensure that you guys are alright. Ranges from paperwork,

getting into WINGS, DoDMERB, contracting, and commissioning. There’s a plethora

of things that we do here; it’s hard to name them all. But to sum it all up, just to

make sure you all know your way to commissioning and becoming officers in the

Air Force.

- How did you begin your career in the military, and what led you to Det 380?

I came in as a Knowledge Operations Management Airman; we were working on

everything from EIM, working on the portal, software, hardware, computer

problems, and records management. It was huge amount of responsibilities. Then as the Air Force

moved on, they started making changes, and I ended up in administration. I’m not quite sure how I got to Det 380. I didn’t put in

for this job; it just came to me. But now I’m happy that I’m here. The objective of detachments across the nation is great, and us

being the first individuals to be role models for future leaders is pretty awesome.

- What are some qualities that you would find in a great leader?

Here’s the thing: a lot of people try to be leaders first. But it is important to also be a follower, being able to understand those

under you and respect them. There may be someone under you, but they might have a great idea of how to get something

accomplished. Some people are just so high up on their horse that they won’t listen to that, and respect is one aspect that I think

is overlooked a lot. The other important thing is integrity. The core values of the Air Force are huge; if you follow them, there is

nothing that you can do wrong. But like I said, respect your people and take a step back; don’t always lead, but also learn to follow.

- What are some things that have helped your career in the Air Force so far?

Mentors. I’m not going to sit here and say that my career has been perfect, and I’ve made mistakes. But I know that with time, you

can correct anything. As long as you’re alive, I don’t care how bad life gets, you can change and turn things around. But like I said,

by listening to those who have come before me and have been in situations that may occur in the future, I can prepare myself for

those situations. It has truly helped me so far.

- What is some advice that you would give to the cadets in Det 380 for when they begin their careers as officers?

Number one is respect, being able to listen and treat everyone with respect equally. Even as cadets, I treat you all with respect and

call each of you sir or ma’am. It’s not just when I’m with a commander or someone with a higher rank. If you treat everyone with

respect across the board, I promise you it will get you far. You will be surprised how many people will work extremely hard for you

if they feel that they’re respected.

- What are some of the things that you see the cadets here doing well, and what are some areas that need improvement?

I see them doing a lot of things well. I have not spent a lot of time with the cadets in this freshman class, but I see the upper

classmen and even other freshmen stepping in to help each other out. It’s not a solo trip; you don’t have to be by yourself. I think

teamwork is important here, and I see you all doing that tremendously. However, I just don’t think that some cadets put forth a

good enough effort. There are some simple tasks that we give cadets that are incomplete even after they said it would be done. I

just don’t think everyone is using their time wisely. But I’m not going to dwell on the negatives. Right now, I think Det 380 is in a

real great place. We have a bunch of great cadets, and as long as they put their minds toward doing this, everybody can commission.

- What are some of the things that you believe distinguishes the Air Force from other branches of the armed services?

Man, this is a trick question. I’m just going to say it like this. We are all one: one team, one fight, one country. I’m not going to

try and separate us. 😊


Who or what motivated/inspired you to join AFROTC?

I was motivated to join because I have a desire to do something other than join the business/corporate world right after graduation. I want to work somewhere where I feel like I’m helping people on a daily basis, and my family is very supportive, so they encouraged it!

What were your initial thoughts and impressions about AFROTC and Det. 380?

I honestly had no idea what I was getting into. I just found the phone number for the detachment online, called, and asked a TON of questions! I was pretty nervous at first, but Captain Aalderink and the rest of the cadre were extremely friendly and helpful with the entry process.

How was it different than what you had anticipated? Why?

When I started, I figured it would be a commitment, and that it would be challenging, but I definitely

underestimated the complexity and intensity of the program. I still feel like I’m getting used to it.

After your first semester at Det. 380, what have you achieved in AFROTC?

In terms of awards or graded achievements in the program, I haven’t done much yet because I have a class schedule that unfortunately conflicts with a lot of ROTC events. I do think that I’ve grown a lot as a person though — physically and mentally! I feel a lot stronger than I used to, and am excited to keep progressing.

What do you look forward to in the future with AFROTC and Det. 380?

I’m excited for next semester as an FTP cadet. I know it is going to be stressful, but I am looking forward to becoming more confident and experienced. I am also excited to get to know more of the detachment and just be more involved and familiarized with the program.

What do you hope to contribute to Det. 380 as a whole?

Det. 380 is a great group that I’m so happy to have joined. Right now, I’m just doing my best to reach the standard of excellence that I can see the rest of the detachment is at. My overall goal is to continuously improve and help others along the way. There were many times this semester that I had questions or needed help with something, and someone was there for me; now I just want to be able to return the favor!

Once commissioned, what career do you plan on pursuing in the Air Force? Why?

I’m still keeping an open mind on what career I might want, but right now I’m thinking of pursuing the Public Affairs Officer career! My major is Advertising Management and Graphic Design, so I’ve been looking for a career that matches up with that. I also think the job and responsibilities for it are unique and pique my interest.

Tell us a little bit about your experience as a 250, or reflect on a thoughtful/fond memory you have.

This past semester has been crazy, fun, and nothing short of amazing! I’ve met so many fantastic people through this program and honestly think that joining has been the best decision I’ve made in college. Yes, sometimes it’s embarrassing, stressful, and scary. But at the end of the day, it’s worth it; the only thing I wish were different is that I joined

earlier. 😊

Cadet Interview: C/Stephanie S. Richey by C/4c Cayman Nelson, Hotel Flight

Cadet Stephanie Richey and Cadet Rowan

Thom eating lunch at FLX


The month of November has been a busy and productive month for Silver Eagles Drill Team. Members of SEDT have worked closely with our detachment and MSU athletic representatives. Our involvement at Detachment 380 and MSU athletic events include the completion of six color guards in the following events: Lead Lab, football, hockey, and men’s and women’s basketball.

During the month of November, under the command of SEDT Commander Haleigh Wendzel, all active members continued to prepare the team for the drill competition next semester at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

Under the leadership of Mr. Richards, along with the help of the detachment, SEDT successfully raised funds for next semester’s activities.

Finally, as of December 2nd, 2017, SEDT proudly welcomes four new actives: Cadets Davis, Depalma, Hermes, and Whipple.

In the month of December, SEDT’s missions are to continue to present the colors at MSU athletic events, raise funds for next semester, and to train new active members in

advanced drill and ceremony. 😊

Bek Squadron Welcomes the Newest

Members of Arnold Air Society

by C/Maj Erin Kelly, AAS Lt Philip Louis Bek Squadron Candidate Training Officer

Congratulations to Cadets Ladd, Mattson, Bielat, Mrla, Blythe, Smith, Bradway, and McKenna! All eight cadets have shown dedication, persistence,

and both physical and mental strength throughout the past eleven weeks. Eagle Flight had to learn a ton of knowledge, drill and ceremonies, and

customs and courtesies to attain the AAS cord and have earned their spot within the squadron – no easy task for any. Each one of these cadets has

earned their right to be activated into the squadron, and I believe they will do great things! Again, congratulations Eagle Flight!!

Cadets Sheehan, Levandoski, Wymer,

and Pulice give blood for the Red Cross

SEDT welcomes four new actives: Cadets

Davis, Depalma, Hermes, and Whipple.

Community Relations…

What’s New With SEDT? by C/3c Trey Mattson, SEDT Public Affairs Officer

Bek Squadron: An Update by C/2Lt Lukas Pulice, AAS Lt Philip Louis Bek Squadron Public Affairs Officer

November has been a good month for Bek Squadron! We have been working towards area- and squadron-level goals. We’ve sent out flyers for the Toys for Kids Drive in Puerto Rico and letters for the Soldiers’ Drive, and we are continuing to work towards that area initiative.

A highlight from this month was our participation in the MSU vs PSU blood drive competition. Multiple cadets volunteered for the Red Cross by registering donors and taking care of them after they had given blood. Even more cadets gave blood. Bek Squadron could potentially be saving about 15 lives in the near future. It doesn’t get

much better than that! 😊

XO Chapman, XO Alcaraz, and CTO Kelly with their FS17 AAS Candidate Class


What else has Detachment 380 been up to?

AFROTC Through Pictures From the Editor: C/Col Jesse Alcaraz, Public Affairs Officer

Silver Eagles Drill Team prepares to

perform retreat during LLAB

Cadet Hebert acts as guidon bearer

during the ORI

100-level cadets prepare for inspection

before the ORI

TSgt Fink inspects Cadet Wilson during

the Open Ranks Inspection (ORI)

Cadets gift SSgt Deering with a jar of dill

pickles as a wedding gift, since her new

last name will be “Dills”

Senior cadets attend one of their last

FLXs

Cadets Willis, Reed, and Simon at FLX

Cadet Davis and two cadets from

Michigan Tech after playing airsoft

Cadet Helsel shoots airsoft gun into ground,

making TSgt Correa of Michigan Tech nervous

Cadet Tiemann instructs cadets on

how to clear a building at FLX

Airsoft champions pose for group

photo at FLX

SPARTAN WARRIOR AFROTC DETACHMENT 380 Issue #3 21

AFROTC Drill Team joins AROTC Drill

Team for the Veterans’ Day Ceremony

The Commanders of AFROTC and AROTC

meet at Veterans’ Day Ceremony

A mixed Color Guard of AFROTC and

AROTC cadets

Cadets from AFROTC and AROTC

perform retreat

C/1Lt Rothley shows Cadet Suryadevara how

to tie a specific knot at the Survival LLAB

Cadet Finazzo looking good in Warrior Paint

Cadets Rinke and Drangines happy despite

the cold weather

Cadets Venticinque and Kunzi looking battle-

ready

Cadets learn self-aid and buddy care during

LLAB

C/1Lt Wymer is blinded by the camera’s flash

as C/Capt Drangines performs his customs

and courtesies

C/Col Wiltse is prepared for November

weather in Michigan


Cadet Tiemann smiles at the camera even

though he is supposed to be injured

Cadets who are commissioning in May 2018

are congratulated on receiving their AFSCs!

Cadets playing dodgeball during LLAB 11

Cadets doing a front-leaning rest as a result of

committing penalties during Air Force Football

Cadet Lasal playing AF Football

Cadet Jobson as a lifeguard during the Water

Survival LLAB

Above and below: Cadets having fun in the pool at

Jenison Fieldhouse!

Cadets Whipple and Pierron practicing self-defense

Cadet Jobson clearly defending herself against

Cadet Reed during self-defense training

Cadet Mattson trying to get his way out

of a headlock

C/Capt Chapman impressed with his own

muscles


Spartan Warrior AFROTC Detachment 380

104 Bessey Hall East Lansing, MI 48825

Thanks for reading!

21 spartan warrior...spartan warrior afrotc detachment 380 | issue #3 2 current event: the u.s. air...

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