Vero Beach Junior ROTC cadets visit nuclear surveillance center

  • Published
  • By Susan A. Romano
  • AFTAC Public Affairs
PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from Vero Beach High School traveled to the Air Force Technical Applications Center here March 17 to tour the center, meet with Airmen, and learn about possible career opportunities in the Air Force.

Escorted by their detachment commander, retired Air Force Maj. Dean Rasdell and military instructor, retired Senior Master Sgt. Shawn Rhude, the cadets arrived in uniform eager and ready to learn about the work being performed at the Department of War’s sole nuclear surveillance center of excellence.

Col. Creighton Mullins, AFTAC’s commander, kicked off the agenda with a heartfelt message of encouragement to the audience, delving into why he joined the military, what life was like in a war zone, the importance of family and camaraderie, and tips on what to consider as they prepare for life after high school.

“You should all be very proud of yourselves for taking the first step to be part of the Junior ROTC program,” said Mullins.  “You are part of the less than one percent of the population who pursues this way of life.  It’s definitely a calling, and it’s a meaningful and rewarding one.”

Mullins went on to describe the different kinds of families that exist in the military.

“Look at our uniforms,” he said.  “On the right side, we have our last name, the one given to you by your biological family.  On the left side, we have ‘U.S. Air Force’ sewn on.  That’s our large extended family.  And when you’re assigned to a specific unit, that becomes your immediate family.  All three are incredibly important because they form the foundation that makes us who we are as a fighting force and why what we do matters.”

The 36 cadets were then broken up into three groups for tours of the center’s Heritage Room, where they had the chance to participate in a Q&A panel comprised of Airmen from a variety of career fields; the Central Repair Facility to learn how AFTACers fix and maintain vital seismic equipment; and the center’s large warehouse to observe several STEM-related demonstrations.

Maxwell Argila, a 17-year-old junior, is hoping to become a commissioned officer and was thrilled at the chance to meet with Air Force personnel.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I knew I wanted to be a part of this community,” he said.  “My dad was a C-130 pilot and is now a commercial airline pilot, and my mom has been a flight attendant for 28 years, so I’ve pretty much grown up in the aviation world.  Having the opportunity to hear about the experiences of Airmen here at AFTAC and learning about what they do on a day-to-day basis has further energized me to pursue my dream of becoming a military pilot.”

Joining Max on the visit was his mother, Monica, who had to choke back tears when asked if she was proud of what her son has accomplished so far in his young life.

“Every parent wants their children to be happy, healthy and successful,” she said, “and Max has achieved all of that plus so much more.  He is driven, mature, a straight-A student, and is a go-getter!  He sets goals for himself, and we’ve seen so much growth in him from being a part of the Junior ROTC program.”

She added, “We’re also so grateful to the men and women of AFTAC who welcomed us and took the time to explain how important their role is to our nation’s security.  It’s been a priceless opportunity!”

Every Junior ROTC detachment assigns a cadet to take on the role of Corps Commander, and FL-43’s detachment is no exception.  Zoë Faulkner, a junior at Vero Beach High, was given the responsibility at the start of the school year to lead her fellow classmates and oversee the training, discipline and welfare of the entire cadet corps.

“When I learned that we were going to be visiting AFTAC, I was so excited!” she exclaimed.  “I want to become a nuclear engineer and knew this would be a fantastic chance to meet with people who not only have a degree in nuclear matters, but also perform that work every day.”

While Zoë is undecided on what school she wants to attend after graduation, she knows she wants to become an Air Force officer, whether through ROTC or Officer Training School.

“I’ve really enjoyed the leadership role I have now, and I hope I can apply everything I’ve learned in a future leadership position, maybe even here at AFTAC someday!”

Erica Sansosti was AFTAC’s project officer for the visit and expressed her thanks to all the volunteers who made the tour a success.

“I was honored to welcome back Vero Beach High School’s JROTC program to our center of excellence,” she said. “This is the third year AFTAC has had the opportunity to reach into our community and give these future leaders a glimpse into our world. The primary goal of this event was to show these young and eager cadets that if they have a passion to serve, there is a place for them within federal service – whether it’s through enlisting, earning a commission, or through civilian service.

She added, “It is humbling to know that this event not only has a positive impact on these cadets, but also on the Air Force.”