Their adviser, Senior Master Sgt. Kathryn Manning, Adviser, explained, “It’s a really big boost and leg up for them in their future plans, and I think it’s just a real awesome accomplishment for them as well.”“You have to take a test. It’s called the AQT, the Aviation Qualification Test, and whatever score you get, you send that in with some endorsements with Sergeant Manning and our counselor gave us endorsements. Those weigh heavily into the selection process,” said Casey McGoffin.
The Flight Academy program partners with certification courses at 22 universities across the U.S. “The universities that we’ve partnered with have grown. They actually got more universities on board this year, which opened up more opportunities for these cadets,” said Manning.LaRocca called the training “probably one of the best experiences of my life. During, it was mentally tolling, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
This was not the case for Casey McGoffin, who clarified, “My ground lasted four to five weeks instead of his three.”