MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Career Center Air Force JROTC recently recognized two groups of cadets who attended leadership schools sponsored by the U.S. Air Force.
One of those schools was taught at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. A select group of 12 KCCC cadets attended the school with 150 other cadets from across the Midwest. The primary focus of the training was the development of character traits such as maturity, responsibility and leadership. The nine-day school started each day with fitness training at 5 a.m. followed by room and uniform inspections. Daily activities ranged from less rigorous activities such as canoe trips and aircraft flights to the more physically demanding orienteering competitions and paintball.
When asked about their experience the cadets responded with a unanimous “awesome!” Cadet Amelia Cline added, “It was a strict environment but still lots of fun.”
Cadet 2nd Lt. Amber Cox was awarded the Vice Commandant’s Award as the second highest scoring cadet and highest scoring first-year cadet.
Two cadets, Lacy Brown and Amber Cox, also attended the prestigious and extremely selective Aerospace Technology and Honors Camp. From more than a quarter million Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine JROTC cadets, the military selects the top one-half of one percent for the honors camps.
Brown was selected to attend Honors Camp in Oklahoma where she studied subjects ranging from aerodynamics to political science. She received aircraft orientation flights and briefings from top civilian and military leaders. Cox was selected for the Medical Honors Camp which receives the same aviation and leadership courses of the standard Honors Camp but adds a specific focus on the medical aspects of the military.
Both cadets had positive remarks about their time at the camp. Cox said, “It was fun learning about the different branches of the Air Force and what they do.”
Brown was especially taken with the session on weather. “It’s one thing to study weather,” she said. “It’s another thing to study weather and then go out the next day and fly through it.”
Air Force JROTC is an elective class offered at the Knox County Career Center and open to all high school students in the county. Anyone interested in JROTC should contact the Knox County Career Center or visit them online at www.knoxcc.org.
