2010 Air Force ROTC Seminar Scores Big with Cadets

They arrived in Reston, Virginia from all U.S. states and two territories for the fifth annual Marshall–Arnold Air Force ROTC Seminar at the end of January.  The ambitions of these 143 top cadets, each representing a college or university, ranged widely. 

Many of them dream big dreams.  Some want to be fighter pilots, electronic warfare officers, aeronautical engineers, and intelligence officers.  Still others see themselves on the edge of space and cyberspace consistent with the Air Force mission.

Bright and enthusiastic, they represent about 1% of all Air Force ROTC cadets.  Soon they will be commissioned as officers coincident with their college graduation.  The three-day Marshall Foundation seminar gave these future leaders a peek into their futures. 

They spent time with knowledge experts discussing national security issues.  They listened to and talked with senior Air Force leadership.  And, certainly, they talked with each other and made new friends.

Seminar Chairman and former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper, USAF (Ret.) advised them to digest the lessons of the two days “because they will serve you well.”  About their decision to serve and to lead, he told them, “You could have taken the easier path and didn’t.”  That sets the pattern for success, he said.  And that pattern will soon include the responsibility of leading highly motivated and well-trained people.  That is “the greatest privilege you can aspire to,” he said.  General Jumper is a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton A. Schwartz opened the seminar with keynote remarks.  General Schwartz reminded the cadets of the privilege and obligation of beginning an Air Force career that will be exciting and exhilarating.  He said part of his success as a leader can be attributed to his passion for life-long learning.  “That will be your advantage, too….We must find time for serious scholarship, for it is the key to success,” he said referring to constantly evolving mission of the Air Force and its need to adapt to changing conditions. 

The seminar has been held in cooperation with the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accession and Citizen Development.  Brig. Gen. Teresa A. H. Djuric commands the Holm Center.  She told the cadets to share what they learned with others in their detachments and reflect on the relationships that they formed during the seminar. 

The seminar also included a guided tour to monuments in Washington, and despite a snowstorm it was popular with cadets who had never been to the nation’s capital as well as those who had.  Overall the cadets rated the seminar as outstanding.  Several said it was the best experience of their ROTC careers.  One of them, Cadet Jonathan Garver of Penn State, said, “The 2010 Marshall-Arnold Awards Seminar was hands down the best program in my four year AFROTC experience.  The roundtable leaders were simply amazing, speakers were phenomenal, and hotel accommodations were beyond my expectations.” 

Speakers from Air Force and business gave keynote speeches.  Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, Commander, Air Education and Training Command, talked about the keys to leadership based on the core values of integrity, service and excellence.  One of those keys, he said, “Learn the art of balancing shortfalls.  You will never have enough time, money, or manpower.”  He added, “There’s nothing more exciting than being a servant leader in serving this nation. Every day get up and try to be a better leader than you were yesterday.”

Maj. Gen. Judith A. Fedder, Director of Logistics, Air Combat Command, described the diverse and interesting careers that will be unfolding for the soon-to-be new junior officers.  She said, “Many of you will be employing weapons system…or on a whole new mission set that we haven’t dreamed of yet.”

Sheila A. Cheston, Executive Vice President for BAE Systems Inc., talked about leadership and ethics.  She said, “Many people talk about character in terms of what you do when no one is looking….But I think character is also what you do when everyone is looking.  Hold on tight to that inner, moral compass.”

Credit goes to Linda Maini, Debbie Barron and Leigh McFaddin of the Marshall Foundation and to Col. John McCain, Commander, Air Force ROTC; Col. Dan Doty, Director of Operations, HQ, AFROTC and Scott Gilley, Chief, AFROTC Cadet Programs, for completing a successful event.