Author: Caden

Over the last fourteen-weeks, cadets have challenged themselves both mentally and physically as they participated in weekly Leadership Labs (LLABs), voluntary training, and physical training sessions. Cadets have had the opportunity to develop their followership and leadership skills through drill, group leadership projects (GLPs), and Expeditionary Skills Training (EST) scenarios. Some of the semester highlights include Initial Military Training (IMT) Weekend, Field Training Preparation (FTP) Weekend, Warrior Fitness Day, EST Weekend, Career Day, Halloween physical training, and many others.

After many weeks, the semester concluded with Change of Command and Dining in. Change of Command is a chance to celebrate all of the accomplishments and achievements that have occurred through out the semester. It also gives the opportunity to thank the previous cadet wing commander and welcome the new commander. This fall semester, the wing was fortunate enough to have had C/Schuster to lead us! After her parting words, the wing was introduced to the new wing commander, C/West. It will be very exciting to see what changes come to the wing next semester.

The final LLAB of the semester was Dining in. Dining in was the perfect way to end the semester. At Dining in, cadets heard some powerful words from Col Unruh, Commander of the 142nd Wing, Portland Air National Guard Base, on how to be great future leaders in the Air Force. Dining in also featured the Grog, which is a combination of salsa, pickle juice, eggnog, and other unsuitable drink combinations. Cadets are called out in rhyme for offences during past professional military training events, and when they are called out they must either defend themselves in rhyme or drink from the grog. Dining in finished out with some brief competitions to decide which group most drink the remnants of the grog. This year that honor fell to Mission Support Group.

There is no doubt that there were many challenges this semester, but for each challenge that arose, there were cadets willing to face them. The growth in the General Military Course (GMC) and Professional Officer Course (POC) was incredible. As cadets move into the next semester AS100s will be expected to refine their skills, as they have learned most of the basics. The intensity level will increase for the AS200s as they move into their final semester before Field Training. Finally, POC cadets will have to adapt to their new roles.

On November 10, 2021 at precisely 1100 the 24 hour Veterans Day Vigil began. During the vigil, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) cadets and Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC) cadets stood side by side in the Praying Hands Memorial for 48, 30 minute shifts. The cadets stood in silence as they honored and remembered the sacrifices of the service members who came before them.

Exactly one day later, the vigil guard was relieved and the annual Veterans Day Ceremony took place beside the Praying Hands Memorial at the University of Portland. The Veterans Day Ceremony is a long honored tradition at the University of Portland which gives everyone an opportunity to take a moment from their busy lives to truly pay respect to those who have help create this great nation that we all love. After a beautiful invocation by Brother Pablo, the ceremony began. One highlight that stood out from the event was the speech by retired Major General Chris Owens (United States Marine), who spoke to the fact that the decreased size of the military is not a bad thing; rather, it shows our progress towards a volunteer based force that does not rely on forced service.

*The original memorial was built by the University’s Class of 1948 and contained bricks inscribed with the names of the 69 University of Portland students killed in service during WWII. Later the memorial was expanded to include other wars and conflicts in which American service members and University of Portland students served, including World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf Wars. The memorial contains the names of 80 University of Portland students who lost their lives in service to the country.

On September 11th 2001, at 0846 American Airlines Flight 11 struck the north tower of the World Trade Center. On September 11th 2021, at 0846 cadets and cadre from Air Force ROTC Detachment 695 began to climb the stairs at Washington park.

While climbing the stairs, cadets and cadre held names of all the police, fighter fighters, and most of the civilians that died on that day. As they climbed, they were called to reflect on the sacrifices of the those individuals and the loss experienced by family, friends, and love ones. Cadets and cadre climbed over 2000 steps totaling the number of stairs in the North Tower. The day’s events were so moving that some were drawn to tears.

It is important that the lives lost on that fateful day are never forgotten. That is why the steps to remember are so important.