Lincoln-Way AFJROTC Cadets Receive Orientation Flight With The Illinois Air National Guard

From Lincoln-Way Community High School:

September 12, 2019

Lincoln-Way cadets had the unique opportunity to visit the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, Illinois, on September 6, 2019.

Sixty cadets from Lincoln-Way Central, East, and West were afforded an inside look at how an airlift wing conducts a flying mission and received an operational support briefing covering aircrew flight equipment.

Cadets were shown what a typical aircrew member uses during flight—from night vision goggles to parachute gear to survival equipment.

The cadets also boarded a C-130 Hercules for an orientation flight with members of the 169th Airlift Squadron. The C-130 Hercules primarily performs the tactical portion of the airlift mission. The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for airdropping troops and equipment into hostile areas.

Air Force Junior ROTC is a citizenship training program that is designed to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship, promote community service, instill personal responsibility, character, and self-discipline. The program achieves this through classroom education in air and space fundamentals and hands on learning opportunities in a number of fun and challenging extra-curricular activities. Air Force Junior ROTC is not an USAF accessions program and cadets are never under any obligation to join the military.

This press release was produced by Lincoln-Way Community High School. The views expressed here are the author’s own.