AAS FTP Semester - Log 5

Deciding to become an Arnold Air Society candidate is one of the best decisions a cadet can make.   

This is what Lt Paul O’Hare Squadron AAS members had to say regarding their experience in the program:

1. Why did you decide to be a candidate?

"I decided to join my first day of ROTC in the spring of 2013 because so many cadets were coming up to me and telling me that I should join Arnold Air. I had no idea what it was but I decided to give it a shot. I continue as an active because it helped my ROTC career so much that I want to help new cadets beginning ROTC. Arnold Air is the best program to help ROTC cadets become better cadets in every way









." -C/Col Bandaruk
           

2. How has your experience been? 

"Arnold Air can be a very tough and trying program. I know many cadets question whether it's worth it. But at the end of the day every cadet that I have talked to is incredibly happy that they finished the program." 



-C/Maj Nguyen

3. What tips can you give to cadets looking to join AAS?

"I would advise other cadets to not take the process lightly and realize that it is a big commitment of not only time but effort and energy. Cadets joining Arnold Air should be ready to sacrifice a few weekends, but they should also understand nothing else will make them better cadets quite like Arnold Air. They need to stay focused on the end results. 




I know if it wasn't for Arnold Air, I wouldn't be in ROTC anymore." -C/Martinez

4. How has AAS helped you in ROTC.

" As a new cadet entering in the spring I feel as though AAS has already helped me catch up the the rest of the 100s that have been in for a semester already. It has given me the tools and confidence I need to be a leader in the ROTC program."     - C/Messfun

5.What Is the hardest part of AAS and why?

"I would say the hardest part of the AAS candidate process is the fact that we have to sacrifice nearly the entire later half of our Fridays. We're all exhausted after training sessions. It's all very intense and like a wake up call to how hard we have to work to make it to field training." -C/Doheny

6. What has been the most rewarding part of AAS and why?

                   

"Seeing my candidate flight excel in ROTC as opposed to the cadets that haven't gone through Arnold Air. The results are definitely worth the work!" -C/ 1st Lt Moore

AAS FTP Semester - Log 4

Avenger Flight was part of another Group Leadership Project this Friday. Arnold Air Society trainers lured the candidates away from an intended course and into a trap.

The trainers planted a decoy bomb in the Physical Education Building at USC.

The objective was to diffuse the bomb within tight time constraint.  The only way to diffuse the bombs was by completing tasks in order to get decoding clues. 

The tasks were:

-Open Ranks Inspection

-Knowledge Questions 

-Adjutant Pace Around the Building

-Reciting All 6 Articles of the Code of Conduct Perfectly

Avenger Flight did well on the GLP. They marched to Trousdale Drillpad where they underwent an intense ORI. After the hour long open ranks inspection, Avenger Flight had to walk at adjutants pace around the halls inside the Physical Education Building. There was a trainer at the beginning of each turn. In order to pass through, the cadet in the front of the line had to answer the knowledge question asked by a trainer. 

After a few rounds of this, Avenger Flight finally came into contact with the bomb. Each cadet had to recite all six articles of the Code of Conduct verbatim to get the final clue. Luckily, they studied well and were able to retrieve the final clue to decode the bomb.

The point of the GLP was to ensure wingmanship (team work), situational awareness, and to stress the importance of being able to excel under time pressure.

AAS FTP Semester - Log 3

Avenger Flight had a chance to be a part of a special bomb Group Leadership Project this Friday. Arnold Air Society trainers hid 10 fake bombs all over the Physical Education Building at USC. 

The objective was to find the bombs and diffuse them under a tight time constraint.  The only way to diffuse the bombs was by reciting the academic knowledge from their blue booklets.

Cadets reciting knowledge from their blue knowledge guides.

Each week, AAS candidates are required to be a week ahead of the general Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets in terms of ROTC and Air Force academic knowledge, the GLP was designed to not only test if they were up to speed with their academic knowledge but their team work as well.

The objective of the GLP was for Avenger Flight to learn about wingmanship and never leaving a wingman behind. An airman never leaves another airman behind in battle. 

Avenger Flight had little trouble with the knowledge as they know they'll get matches taken away if they fail. They were each given a matchbook containing 30 matches at the beginning of the semester.
A match can be taken away for any of the following:

Trainers observing and correcting cadet marching.

-failing to recite or write academic knowledge perfectly (verbatim) from the blue knowledge guide

-messing up on marching procedures

-not working as a team

-failing to complete a task

Overall, Avenger Flight performed decently during the GLP and are getting a little taste of the tricky GLP obstacles they will face this semester as well as potential real life scenarios that they may face in the future when serving as United States Air Force Officers.

AAS FTP Semester- Log 2

       The Lt Paul O'Hare Squadron had a surprise visit from the liaison between the Air Force Association and Arnold Air Society chapters in the Southwest region recently. Lt Chris Talbot, a developmental engineer at Edwards Air Force Base, decided to visit this squadron in particular in order to evaluate our AAS candidacy training program.

       A little background on the formal affiliation between AAS and the AFA...once AAS candidates become actual active members of the Society, they also become cadet members of the AFA when they pay their national dues.  As a cadet member, actives receive the official publication of the AFA, Air Force Magazine. This monthly magazine is comprised of pertinent information about the Air Force and events in the nation concerning members.

       Lt Talbot came to do more than observe and evaluate. He was eager to jump into the training session as a candidate in order to remind himself what it felt like to be in the program. He was part of Avenger Flight periodically through Road Guard Procedures, a Flight Drill Evaluation, and through basic marching drills designed to help cadets improve their performance during the normal ROTC Leadership Lab held every Friday at USC.  After a couple hours of drill and ceremonies, Lt Talbot decided to chime in on the effectiveness of the training schedule with some of our squadrons trainers. 

       As a former AAS candidate, trainer, and current Air Force Officer, Lt Talbot gave his expert opinion and suggestions on how to improve our squadron's training regimen.  One main concern that he pointed out was that we had far too many trainers for the small amount of candidates in Avenger Flight. The trainer to candidate ratio was about 5:1, which made it clear that trainers could use their time more effectively by additionally setting up group leadership projects or working on other aspects of the program. Lt Talbot suggested trainers take candidate training session shifts from now in order to make the experience more efficacious for both the candidates and trainers.  

       After an intense hour long Open Ranks Inspection,  Lt Talbot volunteered to host a Q&A session with the active members and candidates regarding any questions pertaining to AAS, the AFA, or the Air Force in general.  Most cadets in the room were eager to participate in the open forum and asked questions regarding commissioning, NATCON, his time as an AAS candidate, and what life is like as an Air Force Officer. 

       Lt Talbot described his time in AAS as a "rewarding experience" and plans to be more involved with AAS squadrons in the Southwest region.