I decided randomly one day in mid-July to look up the Air Force ROTC program at my university. I'm not sure what made me decide to do this, but I did. After looking through it and determining I'd be eligible to joined, I had a feeling inside of me that wouldn't go away for days. I had an urge to apply for an in-processing interview.
When I had first expressed interest to my family about it, I got a lot of negative feedback. "You're not strong enough to be in ROTC" and "you need to think about that commitment more than just a few days." The thing is, despite their negative comments I still had the drive to apply. I had known for years at that point that I wanted to be an active duty member for the military. Originally, I had been set on going into the US Coast Guard via the academy but was rejected because of a health issue.
Despite the chances of being disqualified from the Air Force and having to drop out of the AFROTC program, I have put my all into the program and as a result I've noticed major improvements in who I am as a person. Here are a few things AFROTC detachment 105 has taught me:
1. Integrity First.
The US Air Force lives by their three core values each and every day: Integrity first, Service before self, Excellence in all we do. For me, integrity has been something I've known of since I was a little middle schooler because it was one of our core values at my school, but I never really fully understood it or applied it to my life until now. Integrity is more than just doing the right thing, it is also holding yourself to high standards to make sure you are doing what is right for yourself—emotionally, physically, and intellectually. Of course, it is also making sure you are doing what is right to support and help others around as well. I have started to take care of myself more since joining AFROTC and I've improved as a person in every aspect as a result.
2. Time management.
I used to think I was great at time management because I held a job working 20 hours a week while in high school and participating in theatre on the side. I've determined recently that the time management skills I developed back then were only skimming the surface of what time management actually looks like. AFROTC takes up about seven hours of my week—two 1-hour PT sessions, leadership lab for 2-3 hours, and two 1-hour long classes. On top of AFROTC, I have to commute to and from Denver, go to work 10-15 hours a week, participate in sorority events, and go to actual classes and do homework (including for my Air Force classes). This means I have had to drastically change my sleep schedule from waking up at 11-12 to waking up anywhere between 4:30am to 7:45am. Although it can be draining, it is definitely beneficial in the end for me as a person overall.
3. Courtesies are important in and out of ROTC.
If you don't know what a courtesy is, the Air Force defines it as follows: good manners and politeness in dealing with other people. It develops good human relations. I've always been a kind and respectful person to others, but I didn't know that a simple thank you could be extended further. Adding a simple sir or ma'am at the end of something not only makes you sound more mature, but also extends more respect to whomever you may be addressing. I've found myself using sir and ma'am not only in ROTC (it's required but also a nice thing to do to respect POC/officers) but also outside of ROTC, which has gained more respect for me as a person because of the respect I provide to others.
4. I am not only going through this program for myself and other personal reasons, but also for the country.
One of my favorite things that AFROTC has really nailed into my brain is that all of the cadets in det 105, and even across the nation, have one thing in common: we want to be commissioned officers in the United States Air Force. We all have our personal reasons to be striving after that goal—for me it is to honor my grandfather Colonel Neil B. Hadley and to be a part of the armed services, but we all are also going through this program to serve our country. To serve millions of people. A quote that really speaks to me and reminds me of this is from the Airman's Creed, which is as follows: "I am an American Airman, guardian of freedom and justice, my nation's sword and shield, its sentry and avenger. I defend my country with my life." I am proud to not only be striving to serve in honor of my grandfather, but for the United States of America.
5. I can always do better.
AFROTC holds us to high standards. As a result, we are reminded in different ways that we can always do better and improve—in a good way. Whether that be pushing us to attend an extra PT session, a prep field training PT session, or to take up leadership opportunities during our weekly leadership lab. It also means to push ourselves to do better academically and personally. I have become a more responsible, understanding, hard-working person as a result of this program in more ways than I can count. This idea can relate back to the third core value of the USAF: Excellence in all we do. We do not settle for average results, we push ourselves to reach excellence and exceed it.
I am thankful that I followed my gut feeling in July because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have found such a love and deep passion for the US Air Force. The ROTC program has allowed me to grow tremendously as a person in just three months, and I am certain it will continue to push and challenge me as I continue on throughout this year, and hopefully the next two years leading up to when I'd be commissioning.
CU Boulder's Det 105 Flags. Location: Folsom Field.AFROTC DET 105
