Page IICadet Leadership Position Page IIINews You Can Use Page IVPhysical Training and Inspector General Page VDining Out

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Detachment 772 atCharleston Southern Univ. is a two-year AFROTC program. Find out more about our program by callingCapt ChristopherSaldana @ 843-863-7144

About UsDROPZONE is theproperty of AFROTCDetachment 772. Its entire contents and style are fully protected by copyright and registered according to copyright laws.

Editor:C/3rd Class Charlotte Graymscharlottegray@yahoo.com

Contributors:Cadet GarverCadet Gray Cadet Lewis Cadet Rendon Cadet Wood

Cadet Commander’s CornerCadet Commander’s Corner

Semester Activities Our spring semester has been successful so far, we are a little more than half way done. As a Detachment, we have already participated in many activities ranging from our recruiting and Honor Guard events to our main events like Career Day and the Low Country Drill Competition. We still have many more events to do before the end of the semester, which include, Warrior Day, Dining Out, EX, and Commissioning. Within each event, the junior cadets were given many different opportunities to lead their peers. Leadership is a very important in the journey to become a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. As a Second Lieutenant, we will be leading a variety of people.

The leadership knowledge that we will experience in our two years at this Detachment will help us all develop and be competitive amongst our peers. Furthermore, gaining leadership experience is just one-way we can prepare for Field Training and most importantly our Active Duty careers as Officers in the United States Air Force.

Cadets of the Month

Cadet Wing Cadet of the Month: C/Harwell

Operations Group: C/Grimes

Mission Support Group: C/Waggy

“The power of excellence is overwhelming. It is always in demand, and nobody cares about its color.”

General Daniel S. “Chappie”

Verse 3 of Air Force SongHere’s a toast to the host

Of those who love the vastness of the sky,

To a friend we send a message of his brother men who fly.

We drink to those who gave their all of old,

Then down we roar to score the rainbow’s pot of gold.

A toast to the host of men we boast, the U.S. Air Force!

By: Cadet Garver

As the Vice Wing Commander of Detachment 772 I work to communicate with the Group Commanders and the Wing Commander on a consistent basis to make sure the Detachment runs at its best. I am a liaison between the two. I keep Cadet Lewis, our Wing Commander informed on issues, tasks, and updates for the cadet wing. At the beginning of this semester, Cadet Lewis and I had a lot of work cut out for us. We worked together to overcome many adversities. I have learned a lot from my fellow cadets and now I trust in their abilities with great confidence. Some may think being in a leadership position, such as Vice Wing Commander, that it is the Vice Wing Commander’s job to act as an assistant to the Wing Commander. In a sense that is correct, but I have learned through experience that a Vice Wing Commander has to be much more involved than that. The chain of command is vital to having great communication within an organization, and when it is used effectively, the cadet wing functions properly. I have a great deal of information coming to me from above the chain and below the chain, of which I must coordinate appropriately to keep the flow of communication going. This semester has been very exciting and I feel we have been able to achieve a more effective flow of communication within the wing by having enhanced communication within the wing staff. Other than communication improvements, I enjoy seeing cadets advance in responsibilities and take on new challenges. The most rewarding part of being in a leadership position is to see cadets that I have mentored, grow and adapt leadership styles of their own. They go through the transition of their first semester in Air Force ROTC, which is mainly figuring out the ropes, and being a follower. After learning these skills, they transition into becoming a leader, being in charge of a squadron or a group and learning what it takes to foster good leadership. In addition, this semester we were able to host a very successful and almost flawless Low Country Drill Competition this year, which was not possible in the past due to many weather conflicts. This event is our largest fundraiser of the year and it gives the Junior ROTC units a competition that they can look forward to during the year. Being in this leadership position has given me huge insight on how it is going to be as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. It is a privilege to have this position and I will be sure to take the many lessons that I have learned in the Detachment with me, as I begin my career as an officer.

Vice Wing Commander

March 2010 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AFROTC DET 772

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March 2010 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AFROTC DET 772

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Gates honors TransCom’s recent service

By William H. McMichael - Staff writer

Posted: Friday Apr 2, 2010 14:40:30 EDT

Years of unsung effort to transport and supply warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan were recognized Thursday when Defense Secretary Robert Gates presented the U.S. Transportation Command with the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

Accompanied by Army Gen. David Petraeus, chief of U.S. Central Command, and other senior military and civilian officials, Gates flew to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., TransCom’s headquarters, to make the presentation.

Gates noted in his remarks that it was “the first and only award that I have personally issued” in his three years as head of the Defense Department.

The award is granted to joint activities “for meritorious achievement or service, superior to that which is normally expected, for actions in the following situations; combat with an armed enemy of the United States, a declared national emergency or under extraordinary circumstances that involve national interests.”

The TransCom award specifically recognizes the period from March 1, 2007, to Feb. 28, 2010, when, according to the citation, “The Command’s three components — Air Mobility Command, Military Sealift Command, and Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command — carried over 5 million passengers, 25,000 patients, and 7.5 million short tons in support of United States Central Command’s two main operations.”

In addition, the citation stated, TransCom “expedited the delivery of thousands of sets of individual body armor, armored vehicles, and supplemental armor kits, in addition to supporting troop surges in both Iraq and Afghanistan.”

“Nobody deserves this honor more,” Petraeus said.

TransCom is led by Air Force Gen. Duncan McNabb.

AF accepting voluntary separation applications

By Michelle Tan - Staff writer

Posted: Friday Apr 2, 2010 8:15:06 EDT

The Air Force Personnel Center began accepting applications Thursday from officers eligible for voluntary separation pay. Officers commissioned in 1998-1999 and 2002-2004 in nine Air Force specialties who are being considered to face the 2010 Reduction in Force Board that convenes Sept. 20 are eligible for voluntary separation pay.

This is part of the Air Force’s expanded force management measures announced March 25. Nearly 6,000 active-duty airmen — enlisted and officers — will be cut in the next two years to allow the Air Force to return to its congressionally mandated end-strength of 332,200 by fiscal 2012.

Voluntary separation pay is paid in a lump sum and is worth twice the involuntary separation payment that is based on an officer’s rank and years of service. For example, a major with 12 years of service will qualify for about $188,500.

Officers in the vulnerable specialties who do not take the voluntary separation pay could find themselves in front of the RIF board and then told to leave the service. However, the RIF board will not be convened if enough officers — 585 — volunteer to exit. Officers told to leave by the board qualify for involuntary separation pay.

The nine Air Force specialties affected by this are space and missile (13S), weather (15W), aircraft maintenance (21A), communications and information (33S), force support (38F), chaplains with the exception of Catholic chaplains (52R), behavioral science/human factors scientist (61B), chemist/biologist (61C), and financial management (65F).

The application window for voluntary separation pay is June 30. Applications will be considered in the order they are received by AFPC through the Virtual Military Personnel Flight.

Officers who want to separate Sept. 30 or sooner must have their applications to AFPC no later than April 30. All other airmen approved for this pay must separate between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2010.

By: Cadet Rendon

I have been appointed as Inspector General (IG) for the semester and it is a great privilege but it is also job of great responsibility. As the IG, I am responsible for two main functions. The first one is ensuring that any concerns within the Cadet Wing are dealt with properly and fairly. The second one is ensuring Cadet Wing operations in every area of the Detachment are within Air Force and AFROTC standards. If there are any personal or wing issues, cadets may come to me with ideas for improvements, complaints, concerns, or any other issues within the limit of my authority. If something is outside my authority or if cadets feel the issue is too personal, they may go directly to the Commandant of Cadets, Captain Saldaña. My ultimate goal is to provide effective feedback to the Cadets and Cadet Leadership in order to ensure adherence to standards. Some ways in which I do that is by constantly monitoring operations, having Open Ranks Inspections, providing periodic feedback, and emphasizing regulations. I am able to observe and evaluate performance to a measurable standard. Overall, the Inspector General has broad knowledge of Wing operations and strives towards continuous improvement through a collaborative effort on behalf of all cadets.

March 2010 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AFROTC DET 772

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Inspector General

Physical Training & Inspector General

By: Cadet Wood

Physical training is an important component in the Air Force ROTC program. Physical training sessions are offered four times per week, and cadets are required to attend at least two of these sessions. Sessions last for one hour, and are aimed at improving the overall fitness level of cadets. Physical training sessions are a good opportunity for cadets to become physically fit, and to practice leadership skills by conducting the sessions. Physical fitness is of high importance to the Air Force. Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley said, "Maintaining the proper fitness levels is really about maintaining combat capability. Being fit can make the difference between life and death for Airmen when actions require concentrated physical activity on or near the battlefield." This quote makes it clear that being “Fit to Fight” is not only to ensure good health, but also to protect the lives of our fellow Airman and ourselves. Physical fitness is important to me because it allows me to perform tasks that are asked of me without worrying about physical limitations. It is necessary to stay fit in order to enable yourself to perform at a high level at all times, and ultimately accomplish your mission. Another reason to focus on physical fitness is to ensure you are prepared for any situation, and able to perform effectively.

Physical Training

March 2010 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AFROTC DET 772

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Meet the Editor Of the DROPZONE!!!

By: Cadet Gray

As head of Dining Out this semester, I am proud to be taking part in such a profound tradition. The reason we participate in Dining Out is to participate in one of our most formal aspects of Air Force life. Two of the main goals of Dining Out are to develop the morale of the Detachment and esprit de corps. Along with those goals, it provides the opportunity to say good-bye to those that are leaving and welcome to those coming. This semester we will be saying good-bye to one of our very own, TSgt Scherlin. She has taught me many things in the short time I have known her and has enhanced my experience here at Detachment 772. I believe I speak for everyone when I say she will be missed dearly. Along with saying farewell, we also practice it as a means to recognize the individual and unit achievements of those in the Detachment. At Dining Out, we will get the chance to see how tradition and ceremony play an important role in an Air Force Unit. This is truly a Detachment event, each Cadet has a level of participation in this event and I feel that will contribute to the success of our Dining Out. Being part of the making of such an important event is certainly something to take pride in. This semester our plans include a delicious menu, we have Lt Col Greenstreet as our guest speaker, and an awards ceremony for the cadets. This will be my first Dining Out and I am definitely looking forward to it. I hope all the Cadets enjoy participating in it as much as I have learning and planning it.