AF Junior ROTC Cadets Visit Dover AFB

Air Force junior ROTC cadet Jessica Brielia, Dover High School, Dover, Del., folds the U.S. flag June 18, 2014, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Brielia and 73 other cadets from five Delaware high schools toured the base as part of a junior ROTC summer leadership school. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

AF Junior ROTC Cadets Visit Dover AFB

Airman 1st Class Jacob Lassiter, left, and Steven Sanford, right, both Dover Air Force Base honor guard members, fold the U.S. flag June 18, 2014, at Dover AFB, Del. Lassiter and Sanford demonstrated ceremonial flag-folding techniques for Air Force junior ROTC cadets from local Delaware high schools. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

AF Junior ROTC Cadets Visit Dover AFB

Airman 1st Class Jacob Lassiter, bottom left, Dover Air Force Base Honor Guard member, watches Air Force junior ROTC cadets Russell Stanley, upper left, Smyrna High School, Smyrna, Del. and Tyler Bucanan, right, William Penn High School, New Castle, Del., fold the U.S. flag June 18, 2014, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Lassiter and other Dover AFB honor guard members provided cadets with hands-on training on honor guard duties and tasks. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

AF Junior ROTC Cadets Visit Dover AFB

Air Force junior ROTC cadet Seth Louth, right, Smyrna High School, Smyrna, Del., prepares to battle Staff Sgt. Shane Howard, left, a 436th Security Forces Squadron Phoenix RAVEN June 18, 2014, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Louth and other cadets took turns attacking Howard who posed as an aggressor during Armament Systems and Procedures collapsible baton training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

AF Junior ROTC Cadets Visit Dover AFB

Air Force junior ROTC cadet Adrian London, right, Dover High School, Dover, Del., swings his baton at Staff Sgt. Shane Howard, left, a 436th Security Forces Squadron Phoenix RAVEN June 18, 2014, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. London and other cadets took turns defending their position for 45 seconds against the advances of Howard during Armament Systems and Procedures collapsible baton training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

AF Junior ROTC Cadets Visit Dover AFB

Air Force junior ROTC cadet John Colatriano, Middletown High School, Middletown, Del., prepares to battle June 18, 2014, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Colatriano and other cadets took turns defending their position against the advances of a 436th Security Force Squadron Phoenix RAVEN during Armament Systems and Procedures collapsible baton training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

AF Junior ROTC Cadets Visit Dover AFB

Senior Airman Alexander King, right, 436th Maintenance Squadron aerospace maintenance technician, shows Air Force junior ROTC cadets the C-5B Galaxy right wing inner slice bolts June 18, 2014, at the isochronal inspection hangar on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The cadets were briefed on the C-5B isochronal inspection process and toured around the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

AF Junior ROTC Cadets Visit Dover AFB

Air Force junior ROTC cadets pose for a photo June 18, 2014, inside the isochronal inspection hangar on Dover Air Force Base, Del. Seventy-four cadets from five Delaware high schools participated in a summer leadership school which included tours of Dover AFB facilities and aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)

AFJROTC tours Team Dover

Published June 20, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- More than 74 cadets from the Summer Leadership School Air Force JROTC program received a tour here June 16-19, 2014.

The program was made up of five different schools in Delaware: William Penn High School, Caesar Rodney High School, Middletown High School, Smyrna High School and Dover High School. The program is an extracurricular activity that JROTC uses as an additional training event for students who want to continue their experience over the summer.

"I think [Summer Leadership School] is a great addition to the JROTC program for Delaware," said Maj. (Ret) Steven Michael, William Penn High School senior aerospace science instructor. "It gets all of the Delaware units together and we are able to more closely standardize our programs so they start to look the same."

The cadets toured a variety of areas on base. Their first stop was with the base Honor Guard where they were taught the different ceremonies performed, including how to fold a flag properly. Next, they visited the Ravens where they learned fighting techniques and why the Raven's protection is important to DAFB's cargo jets. They also toured the Isochronal Inspection Dock where they got to walk on top of an aircraft and learn about its capabilities and the mission of ISO.

The cadets continued their tour of Dover AFB with stops at the 436th Operations Group's Aircrew Flight Equipment and the Air Traffic Control complex. At AFE they received an in-depth aircrew flight equipment familiarization briefing along with a taste of some Air Force discipline from former Military Training Instructor Staff Sgt. Clayton Morris, 436th Operations Support Squadron AFE quality assurance inspector.

Morris said AFE has a no fail mission and in their world they are in charge of safeguarding aircrew when things go wrong. He said cadets need to understand the mission should they choose to commission or enlist in the profession of arms. He also said the cadets could be responsible for other people's lives and millions of dollars in government assets.

"I feel that I was able to get my point across to the cadets as well as demonstrate to them the importance of self-discipline, rule following and attention to detail," said Morris. "I made it clear to them that they were involved with an institution that was much larger than themselves, and that they represent all service members past and present and not to bring shame and discredit upon the military."

After the briefing and a tour of the AFE facility, the cadets moved on to the ATC complex. Here they toured the ATC tower, the Radar Approach Control, and the ATC simulator. They even got to witness a C-5M Super Galaxy and a C-17 Globemaster III practice touch-and-go landings.

Jasmine Bagley, Caesar Rodney High School cadet, said it was interesting touring the base because she was able to learn about Airmen's jobs and what they do for a living.

"My favorite part of the tour was being in the flight tower, watching the planes come in and learning about the traffic controls," said Bagley. "I joined JROTC because I wanted to join the military and learn what leadership was like. The tour further educated me about the Air Force."

Michael said he thought it was beneficial that the summer leadership school toured Dover AFB because they learned about what the real Air Force is doing, what they are flying and how they are moving missions.

"I think it is beneficial because we are an Air Force unit," said Michael. "We study Air Force history and the science of flight and Dover AFB is all of those things in a nut shell. It gets the point across to the cadets that it is important to pay attention to detail and use your education opportunities now so you are able to join the Air Force team. Joining the Air Force should not be their last choice; it should be their first choice."