by
AFROTC Detachment 270
March 2007
Kansas State University
Contents of
Wildcat Warrior
March 2007
Page 1
Commanders
Perspective:
- Col O’Boyle
Pages 2 & 3
Unit Admissions
Officer
- Capt Nichols
Page 4
COC View
-Capt Kaiser
Page 5
Wing
Commander‘s
Comments
- C/Col York
Page 6
Squadron’s
Corner
-C/Maj. Lindeke
Page 7
Alpha Flight Talk
- C/Capt Krones
Bravo Flight Talk
-C/Capt Bandy
Spring is upon us. It marks the halfway point of the second semester. For seniors,
it means commissioning is just around the bend. For freshman, it means you may have
survived your first year. Regardless of your position in the corps, it means there is much
to look forward to. Intensive field training prep, annual parade, dining-out, FTX or the
base visit to Kirtland AFB, NM. As always you need to focus on your studies. Don’t just
get by and survive, but get with it and thrive. Wring every last ounce of knowledge you
can from your professors and your classes. You won’t have the opportunity again.
Participate in your school. Make a difference. Whether you are in the cadet corps or in
some other area on campus do something positive. Help someone else. If you don’t help
others and focus inward, do you really think someone will be there for you when you need
them? There are lots of fun things to do, do them. But focus most of your energy at
preparing for your future. Strike the right balance—it pays off. Nobody can do life for
you—it only works for you with your password—don’t be a wisha, coulda, shoulda. Be a
did it, done it, won it.
THOMAS R. O’BOYLE, Colonel, USAF
Commander, Det. 270
Page 8
FTP Flight Talk
- C/ Honea
Thanks to all who
contributed.
C/3C Dvorak
The Wildcat Warrior is an unofficial cadet update published twice during the semester in the interest of Det 270 at KSU.
Opinions expressed by the published and writers herein are their own and are not to be considered as official expressions
of the United States Air Force, AFROTC, the Department of Aerospace Studies, or KSU.
AFROTC Detachment 270  Kansas State University  Wildcat Warrior  March 2007  Page 2
Congratulations to those who are part of the cadet wing this semester. We lost quite a few
prospective cadets last fall - as is the trend every fall. Spring brings new faces though, and I expect
those of you who are already oriented with our program to help these new cadets out. A little bit of
kindness goes a long way…which leads me to a story given by former Alabama head football
coach, Bear Bryant.
“I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old car down in South
Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have been a pretty good player and I was
'havin' trouble finding the place. Getting hungry I spied an old cinder block building with a small
sign out front that simply said "Restaurant." I pull up, go in and every head in the place turns to
stare at me. Seems I'm the only white 'fella' in the place. But the food smelled good. So I skip a
table and go up to a cement bar and sit. A big ole man in a tee shirt and cap comes over and says,
"What do you need?" I told him I needed lunch and what did they have today? He says, "You
probably won't like it here, today we're having chitlins, collared greens and black eyed peas with
cornbread. I'll bet you don't even know what chitlins are, do you?" I looked him square in the eye
and said, "I'm from Arkansas, I've probably eaten a mile of them. Sounds like I'm in the right
place." They all smiled as he left to serve me up a big plate. When he comes back he says, "You
ain't from around here then?" And I explain I'm the new football coach up in Tuscaloosa at the
University and I'm here to find whatever that boy's name was and he says, yeah I've heard of him,
he's supposed to be pretty good. And he gives me directions to the school so I can meet him and his
coach. As I'm paying up to leave, I remember my manners and leave a tip, not too big to be flashy,
but a good one and he told me lunch was on him, but I told him for a lunch that good, I felt I should
pay. The big man asked me if I had a photograph or something he could hang up to show I'd been
there. I was so new that I didn't have any yet. It really wasn't that big a thing back then to be asked
for, but I took a napkin and wrote his name and address on it and told him I'd get him one. I met
the kid I was 'lookin' for later that afternoon and I don't remember his name, but do remember I
didn't think much of him when I met him. I had wasted a day, or so I thought. When I got back to
Tuscaloosa late that night, I took that napkin from my shirt pocket and put it under my keys so I
wouldn't forget it. Heck, back then I was excited that anybody would want a picture of me. And the
next day we found a picture and I wrote on it, "Thanks for the best lunch I've ever had. Paul Bear
Bryant." Now let's go a whole 'buncha' years down the road. Now we have black players at
Alabama and I'm back down in that part of the country scouting an offensive lineman we sure
needed. Well, he's got two friends going to Auburn and he tells me he's got his heart set on Auburn
too, so I leave empty handed and go on to see some others while I'm down there. Two days later,
I'm in my office in Tuscaloosa and the phone rings and it's this kid who just turned me down, and he
says, "Coach, do you still want me at Alabama?" And I said, "Yes I sure do." And he says okay, he'll
come. And I say, "Well son, what changed your mind?" And he said, "When my grandpa found out
that I had a chance to play for you and said no, he pitched a fit and told me I wasn't going nowhere
but Alabama , and wasn't playing for nobody but you. He thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all
met." Well, I didn't know his granddad from Adam's housecat so I asked him who his granddaddy
was and he said, "You probly don't remember him, but you ate in his restaurant your first year at
Alabama and you sent him a picture that he's had hung in that place ever since. That picture's his
pride and joy and he still tells everybody about the day that Bear Bryant came in and had chitlins
with him. My grandpa said that when you left there, he never expected you to remember him or to
send him that picture, but you kept your word to him and to Grandpa, that's everything. He said you
AFROTC Detachment 270  Kansas State University  Wildcat Warrior  March 2007  Page 3
could teach me more than football and I had to play for a man like you, so I guess I'm going to." I
was floored. But I learned that the lessons my mama taught me were always right. It don't cost
nuthin' to be nice. It don't cost 'nuthin' to do the right thing most of the time, and it costs a lot to
lose your good name by breakin' your word to someone. When I went back to sign that boy, I looked
up his Grandpa and he's still running that place, but it looks a lot better now; and he didn't have
chitlins that day, but he had some ribs that 'woulda' made Dreamland proud and I made sure I
posed for a lot of pictures; and don't think I didn't leave some new ones for him, too, along with a
signed football. I made it clear to all my assistants to keep this story and these lessons in mind when
they're out on the road. And if you remember anything else from me, remember this - It really
doesn't cost anything to be nice, and the rewards can be unimaginable.”
So be nice. Not because you want anything in return, but because it’s the right thing to do.
Jameson L. Nichols, Captain, USAF
Unit Admissions Officer
AFROTC Detachment 270  Kansas State University  Wildcat Warrior  March 2007  Page 4
Are you up to the challenge? I challenge you to become better; a better Cadet, better in your
grades, better in building teamwork and relationships, and better in community activities. How can
you do this? It’s easy; CHALLENGE, it is a way to get you out of your comfortable zone and into
new territory. What do you gain if you stagnate and become a vegetable doing the same thing dayin and day-out? If you hear that there’s an opportunity to volunteer, stick your hand up, bound out
of your chair, work feverously pounding on your keyboard saying that you’ll volunteer; try not to
break your keyboard in the process.
Let’s talk about change. Does anybody remember their New Years’ Resolutions? By this
time many of you have forgotten what you were determined to do this year, or you have stopped
working on achieving those goals you set. Dig deep and change a few things in your life. Try
setting daily goals, some as simple as laying your clothes out for the next day, not hitting the snooze
button seventeen times before you wake up, revising your class notes immediately after your class,
or see how long you can go without drinking soda; I’m on my third month of not drinking soda,
there are many other simple things in life you can change, just try it out.
This semester jammed pack with many activities to do, involve yourself with college life, go
to a play, go to a blockbuster movie on opening night, watch the guys from Mythbuster’s perform
during Open House in April, there is so much to do, just don’t miss out on the opportunities to have
fun.
NATHAN V. KAISER, Capt, USAF
Commandant of Cadets
AFROTC Detachment 270  Kansas State University  Wildcat Warrior  March 2007  Page 5
Wing,
Well, it seems that things are up and rolling along for another fast and furious AFROTC
semester. In this edition I will touch upon some of the things that I have noticed so far, as well as
some of the goals that I and Wing Staff have for the Corps.
First, everyone’s attitude and spirit are at high levels! The Spring Semester is vastly different from
the Fall. We do not have to concentrate so much on activities like Stadium Cleanup, but instead we
reap the rewards from our collective hard work through events like FTX, the Ropes Course, Dining
Out, and the Spring Break trip. “All work and no play makes ____________(fill in appropriate
name here) a dull boy (or girl).” Anyway, in short, this is the semester to enjoy the things that
AFROTC has to offer. We have a brand new big screen TV and plush new furniture. Take some
time out of your busy day to experience the many things your hard work has earned you.
That aside, while there are a lot of outstanding opportunities this semester, you should still be
concentrating on the reason why you are here: academics. Cadet Veitenheimer has established an
academic study night on Mondays from 1900-2030. Get together with your mentor or mentee to
study. There are more than enough resources at your beck and call to succeed. Take advantage of
opportunities like these to get ahead in your studies in order to excel in the classroom. This should
be your priority.
Finally, here are some observations for each of the classes and some goals to strive for:
AS100s- It is your job to learn the ins and outs of followership, i.e. what traits are necessary
to be an effective follower. You are still learning the ropes and many things are relatively new.
Continue to learn your role as a follower, only then will you be able to proceed as future leaders
within the Wing and ultimately as Air Force officers.
AS200s- I probably can’t say anything that hasn’t been brought to your attention already by
your CTOs. It is going to be a tough and trying semester for you heading into your respective FTUs
this summer. Study your AFOATS T-203 and listen to the advice and help offered to you by your
CTOs. You will be representing K-State, DET 270, your family, and most importantly, yourself at
Field Training. Keep up the good work!
AS300s- As 300s, you are refining your leadership skills and furthering your preparation to
take over the Wing as 400s and enter Active Duty as 2nd Lieutenants. You are the role models for
the new cadets, as you are the main actor in their immediate interaction with AFROTC.
AS400s and Extendeds- Once Spring Fever hits, for the rest of the civilian graduating
seniors, you can take to the bank the fact that they have “switched off”. For us, however, we must
continue to push through our duties here and make sure all our “ducks are in a row” before even
thinking about life on Active Duty. Continue to strive for excellence, always cognizant of what you
want your legacy to be.
ALL- ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, DEDICATION!
AIR POWER!
JOSHUA H. YORK, C/Col, AFROTC
Wing Commander
AFROTC Detachment 270  Kansas State University  Wildcat Warrior  March 2007  Page 6
Squadron,
This semester Detachment 270 has broken down the flights into two flights consisting of
almost all 100s and an FTP flight that because of the set up can focus a great deal of energy into
their flight. As Squadron Commander this semester I expect all of these flight members along with
their leadership to mature as leaders and become better prepared to deal with duties tasked to them
throughout their Air Force career. Each flight was given the opportunity to create goals for their
flight as well as each of the flight members. The purpose of this is to keep everyone focused on
where they want to be in the future and to keep them on the road to get there. Alpha and Bravo
flights have a steeper learning curve than FTP flight due to the absence of 200s in their ranks. It
may seem difficult for the 100s to take on all the roles in the flight such as element leader and
guidon bearer but the 100s have stepped up to the challenge and excelled significantly in all flight
positions. Some have even marched the flight to and from Llab. The 100s in both flights continue
to climb the learning curve and I believe will eventually produce a highly competitive class when it
comes time for Field Training, categorization, or other slot selection. This semester FTP flight has
been able to operate as their own flight underneath the Operation Group. While they struggle with
each obstacle sent their way like every FTP class, they are building team cohesion to help each
other through these difficulties-you could say they are in the Forming phase. The rigorous Physical
Training schedule that they are going through to get them ready for Field Training has begun to
take effect with the 200s improving their physical strength and endurance. Even with the demands
from their CTOs, memorization of Field Training procedures, as well class loads from the
University, FTP flight stays highly motivated and I expect to see them as Honor and/or Warrior
flight and if not, not far behind.
C/Maj Lindeke
Operations Squadron Commander
AFROTC Detachment 270  Kansas State University  Wildcat Warrior  March 2007  Page 7
Alpha Flight,
This semester is your time to grow, and take chances. To step up and show that you have
what it takes to be a leader. This is the one chance that you'll have to learn without a trainer
hounding you for a while. Take advantage of all of your opportunities and don't let something slip
past you while you watch T.V., or build your courage to do something. Stand-up and stand out! This
is your time take it and make of it what you will.
K-A-All the WAY!!!
C/Capt Krones
ALPHA FLT/CC
Bravo Flight,
These past few weeks have passed by quickly! I feel that we have made tremendous strides
since the beginning of this semester, but we still have a lot of room left to grow. If you haven’t
marched the flight yet, be prepared to do so as I plan to have everyone who wants a shot at
marching the flight get the opportunity. As you all make your way through this spring semester,
don’t forget about the personal goals you have set for yourselves, as well our flight goals of winning
honor and warrior flight. Additionally, we have some very exciting events coming up with FTX,
Parade, and Dining Out. Be sure to inform all of your family to make the trip to Manhattan, KS to
witness one of the best AFROTC detachments march in our Parade ceremony. I challenge every
one of you to give your absolute best this semester to make Bravo Flight the greatest flight at Det.
270! Who Dat!
C/Capt Bandy
Bravo FLT/CC
AFROTC Detachment 270  Kansas State University  Wildcat Warrior  March 2007  Page 8
Phoenix Flight,
First off I want to say how impressed I am with the way we are coming together as a flight.
There has not been a time, I can recall, someone needed help and one of you has not been there for
assistance right away. With about one third of the semester down we need to continue to step up
and become even more cohesive, field training is only a few short months away. Along with field
training comes field training prep. All four of the CTO’s are doing a great job preparing us for this
summer, make sure to listen to their knowledge and experience (even in the form of getting
reamed). Continue to work hard in your classes, stay in shape and always build each other up
(FROM THE ASHES!!).
BOBBY HONEA, C/3C, AFROTC
Acting Phoenix Flight Commander