Det 270
Wildcat Warriors
Spring 2010
Commander’s Call
Greetings Wildcat Cadets, Cadre, Alumni &
Friends,
The Wing has been very busy this semester and
has participated in many unique and fun activities.
There were 29 cadets who flew on the KC-135R
orientation flight from Forbes Field, KS; thank you
very much 190 ARW and 117 ARS! There were
26 cadets who visited Sheppard AFB, TX to learn
about officer career fields and the unique rigors of
pilot training. Our annual Dining-Out had nearly
150 total attendees and we were honored to have
KSU/Det270 alumnus Lt Col Brian Borgen
(USAFR; 303 FS/CC) as our Guest Speaker. Also,
we sent two cadets each to the Arnold Air and
Pershing Rifles national conventions and our Honor
Guard conducted numerous flag details including
support for KSU’s nationally ranked basketball
team. The cadets remain fully engaged and busy
with their academics and cadet activities.
Finally, I’m pleased to report six cadets earned
scholarships this semester and three additional
scholarships will be awarded in late April. If
you’re ever in the area and would like to visit please
call/email so we can prepare. Also, if the timing
works I’m always looking for experienced and wise
alums for LLAB (Thursday, 1530-1730) guest
speakers; the cadets enjoy hearing stories from the
front!
Very Respectfully,
Edward A. Meyer, Lt Col, USAF
Commander
CoC’s Corner
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s been a pleasure
serving as part of an elite team of Cadets and Cadre
for nearly four years. I will be departing this July to
Bahrain for a two-year tour. During my time at Det
270 I have seen a wide variety of great things that
cadets have done. Continue to work hard to
improve your environment and make life fun. Take
the time to get out of your comfort zone and try
different things, it will only make you better as an
Officer Candidate and person. Communication is a
key leadership tool to possess; to be able to
effectively write and speak will give you what you
need to succeed. Bullets are tough, writing about
yourself is even tougher, but without practicing and
constantly writing down what you do every week,
you hurt your chances for the Cadre to know what
you really do behind the scenes. Hopefully, it is
aiding and assisting others instead of vegetating on
the couch. Do something that you will remember
for the rest of your life, help others
CoC’s Corner Con’t.
and leave a legacy. We’ve Cadets in the past who
laid the foundation for the flagpole we use today;
other Cadets helped build the Veteran’s Memorial
by the All-Faith’s Chapel. A semester’s worth of
work at the Stadium was enough to purchase and
upgrade the Cadet Lounge that everyone has been
using for the past four years. Start brainstorming
and doing something that will be around for a long
time…take the initiative. Finish this semester
strong, boost your grades and have fun at the same
time. I enjoyed the Dining-out, didn’t expect to
reach the Grog Bowl so often, but it was tasty.
Continue to enjoy the events available to you
whether it’s Paintball, Rappelling, Blackhawks, or
all of the other planned activities; volunteer and do
something different…contribute to the team. It’s
been memorable, enjoy and stay alive as a Cadet.
Nathan V. Kaiser, Capt, USAF
Commandant of Cadets
Cadet Wing Commander’s View
Greetings Everyone,
It has been a pleasure and honor being the
Wing Commander this semester. My main goal has
been to get cadets involved in ROTC activities, and
build a desire to be a part of our organization rather
than just another body. It has been fun and a joy
getting to know many other cadets at events outside
the Det, from Super Bowl parties to Thursday
dinners after LLAB.
Throughout this entire semester we had
some great life changing experiences. First, Cadets
had the opportunity to watch B-52's being refueled
from the boom of a KC-135. In February, a group
traveled to the Air Force Academy for the 17th
National Character and Leadership Symposium.
Then, several Cadets traveled to Sheppard AFB
over spring break for an inside look at an active Air
Force Base. Back on campus we had the pleasure
of listening to members of the 10 ASOS and have
scheduled A-10s to visit Manhattan for all to see.
As this semester draws to a close, the
opportunities and challenges for next semester
begin. POC, I challenge you to stay involved and
act on your ideas to improve the Corps. GMC, I
challenge you to become a member of the Corps by
participating in more than the minimums. My most
memorable experiences in ROTC are from base
visits and NCLS trips, which would’ve never
happened if I only showed-up to PT and LLAB.
Thank you for all your hard work; I wish each of
you the best of luck in your future.
Stephen K, C/Col, AFROTC
Commander, Cadet Wing
Honor Guard (HG)
This semester has been very exciting for
HG. Not only did we present the Colors at several
high profile KSU basketball games, we also
received new equipment early this semester; we
added rifles to our repertoire. These rifles are a
superb asset and have increased our professional
image. Too, our training has improved, and will
only get better, and our details are sharper; the rifles
add a note of complicity. I am very excited about
our potential now that we have the rifles.
The highlight of this semester was the
privilege of performing at the KSU/KU basketball
game that was aired on ESPN’s College Gameday.
Representing the USAF and Det270 was a huge
responsibility and it was one fulfilled with much
success. Other major games where we presented
the Colors include Missouri and the Senior’s Night
game against Iowa State. Now that basketball is
over HG is preparing for baseball season and even
the possibility a Kansas City Royals game. There
are many freshmen interested in the program and I
fully expect an increase in participation. I look
forward to seeing HG become the pride of the Det.
Tyler A. D., C/Capt, AFROTC
Commander, Honor Guard
Arnold Air Society (AAS)
The Lloyd B. Vorhies Arnold
Air Society Squadron of AFROTC
Det 270 has gotten off to a great
start this semester. We've
recruited a well motivated
candidate class, the members of
which have already come together
as an effective team. These candidates were a great
help when the squadron implemented its first
fundraiser of 2010, The Penny War (containers
were set out in the cadet lounge, each labeled with a
flight's name; pennies gained a flight points while
all other coinage deducted points). All together, we
earned about $57.00. The winning flight will
receive a box of donuts from the AAS squadron for
this honor and the money we raised supported our
participation at the annual AAS National
Convention held in Seattle, WA over Easter
weekend. This event was attended by the Vorhies
Sq/CC and DO.
We've also already begun work on a few service
projects that will benefit members of the local
community and US service members abroad. The
most notable project thus far was an effort to
increase morale and provide encouragement to an
active duty airman stationed at Ft Riley, KS who
was recently wounded by an IED while on patrol in
the Middle East. Upon his return home he endured
extensive surgeries and continues to undergo
recovery therapies. He gave his sight, and life as he
knew it, in defense of liberty-loving people the
world over. The Vorhies squadron believes he's
worthy of our utmost praise and appreciation; he is
an American hero!
Matthew H., C3C, AFROTC
Public Affairs Officer, AAS Vorhies Sq
Field Training Preparation (FTP)
The Wing is very fortunate to have fantastic
underclassmen/GMC group of cadets this academic
year. Today’s AS-100s, and especially AS-200s,
are some of the most motivated cadets I’ve seen in
nearly four years in AFROTC; too, this opinion is
the consensus of the entire POC. The success of
our community projects and physical training (PT)
test scores reflect this high quality.
A critical part of FTP, and the key to success
at Field Training, is good teamwork and cohesion
among the AS-200 class. The FTP cadets have
come a long way this semester and continue to
improve. They’ve accomplished the all important
sleep-over and held a PT session at Capt Kaiser’s
yard despite the danger of encountering bears
(check Facebook ™ for pictures). More
importantly, they’re helping each other which is
something the FTP staff thoroughly enjoys seeing.
The AS-200 cadets also have a lot of heart; a
lot is asked from them (more than any of the
GMCs) and they deliver! They have more difficult
and demanding PT, are assigned extra tasks, and
must perform in assigned leadership roles. Under
near constant pressure, many AS-200 cadets are
flourishing and several others are well on their way.
Following each morning’s PT, the 200’s recite the
Airman’s Creed and the Air Force song. They do
this loudly and proudly and I encourage all cadets,
who have yet to observe this ritual, to stick around
and see for yourselves.
Jan A., C/Maj, AFROTC
Commander, Field Training Squadron