10 August 2008
MONTGOMERY, Alabama - The quiet, spacious campus of Huntington College in Montgomery, Alabama hosted the 120 cadets during the 2008 Cadet Officer School. Cadets filed into their college dorms and started to mingle with other officers meeting new people and future friends form all over the nation. Once divided into 10 flights, the team building process began. Learning the various leadership styles and how to apply to different situations became the theme of the week. The mornings began with seminars that where so interesting and phenomenal that falling asleep was not on any cadet’s mind. Through out the week more than 4 air force active duty presented, doctors of education, and former Prisoner Of War graciously shared their stories and leadership tactics. The nights ended with an active game of volleyball between the flights and readings for the next day. COS is known for the infamous Project X. The excited cadets ready for anything hopped on the school bus headed for Maxwell Air Force Base. The humid morning began with exercises and stretches to prepare the flights for the cruel day of victory and defeat. At the end of the week honor flight was chosen by an equal amount of: volleyball, Team Leadership Problems, Project X, and a knowledge test. As the flights fought tooth and nail for the honor, flight 10 came soaring to the top with our vary own C/Major Nathan Cary in the flight. Upon graduating, C/Major Nathan Cary, C/Capt. John Michel LeRoy, and C/Major Parth Patel received their Earheart awards presented by the commander of Civil Air Patrol, Brig Gen Amy Courter. Graduation was a glorious and heartbreaking time for the cadets, the sweet triumph of success and the times of loving goodbyes of new friends. With Cadet Officer School at its end, it is up to the cadets to retain and utilize the immense information provided from the prestige school. If you find yourself yearning for more information and detailed stories about COS, ask the graduates C/Major Nathan Cary, C/ 1st Lt Christa Conroy, C/Capt. John Michel LeRoy, and C/Major Parth Patel.

 

Article by C/1st Lt Christa Conroy and pictures submitted by Capt Tiffany Hamm