SEU selected to train US Air Force JROTC

This summer, Southeastern University (SEU) became one of 11universities in the U.S. to be awarded a contract with the U.S. Air ForceJunior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) Flight Academy program.Conducted at universities across the nation, the Air Force JROTC FlightAcademy, Chief of Staff Private Pilot Scholarship program, is an eight-weeksummer aviation training course that allows high school students to complete a privatepilot certification.

The scholarship program is intended to combat a nationalpilot shortage that the U.S. is currently experiencing. Both commercialairlines and the military are lacking sufficient numbers of pilots to keep upwith the need. The Flight Academy also encourages diversity within the aviationindustry. According to the U.S. Air Force, “Women make up less than 6 percent ofpilots, and minorities represent less than 10 percent.” The 125,000 cadetscurrently enrolled in high school Air Force JROTC make up the Air Force’s mostdiverse program.

SEU welcomed its first group of JROTC students on June 3when eight students arrived on campus and began training for their private pilotcertification. SEU is hosting a diverse array of students in this summerprogram from Puerto Rico, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, North Dakota, Colorado,and Florida. These students include three women. Seven of the students are highschool juniors or seniors, and one is a college senior. The high schoolstudents applied through their JROTC program to receive their scholarshipsthrough the U.S. Air Force, and the college student applied through heruniversity’s ROTC program. Out of 10,000 applicants, only 150 were chosen toreceive the scholarship.

The students completed coursework through SEU, earning themsix credits. This includes ground training such as emergency medical techniqueswhile flying as well as learning aviation technology. They also flew once everyweekday at Lakeland Linder International Airport with certified flightinstructors.

Students who successfully complete the Flight Academyprogram will be awarded their private pilot certification, which allows theindividual to fly a private aircraft anywhere as long as they are in compliancewith the airspace regulations set by the country of destination. The studentswill also be required to join the civil air patrol with funding from the U.S.Air Force, which allows the students to continue to fly one to two times amonth.

During the program, the JROTC students lived on SEU’s campusand were supervised by two chaperones. They were transported to and from theairport each day and they also ate meals together.

SEU plans to continue hosting JROTC students and hopes to have 20 students for the summer of 2020.

Source: Southeastern University