Three Daphne High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadets have soared to new heights, earning scholarships to attend an elite aviation program next summer.
According to a news release, Cadets Cade …
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Three Daphne High School Air Force Junior ROTC cadets have soared to new heights, earning scholarships to attend an elite aviation program next summer.
According to a news release, Cadets Cade Johnson, James McKnight and Zoey Smith were selected for the Flight Academy Scholarship Program, a competitive initiative aimed at addressing the nation's pilot shortage.
The scholarships, valued at approximately $27,000 each, cover transportation, room and board, academic coursework and the flight hours necessary to pursue a private pilot license. The cadets will participate in an intensive eight-week program at an accredited aviation university, joining 194 other Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from around the globe.
Alternates for the program include Daphne High School's Cadets John Jones, Anna Herring and Maribel Pocase, who are among 136 cadets named to the waiting list.
The scholarships were awarded by Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC, based at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. Out of 1,203 applicants, only 226 cadets were chosen as scholarship recipients or alternates. This program, which requires no military commitment, offers participants a pathway to earn their private pilot license while earning college credit.
The Flight Academy Scholarship Program is part of an Air Force-level initiative in collaboration with the commercial aviation industry. The program addresses the critical pilot shortage affecting both civilian and military sectors, with more than 85,000 high school students currently enrolled in Air Force Junior ROTC programs across 830 schools worldwide.
While the program provides valuable training and credentials, completion does not guarantee entry into military commissioning programs or other branches of service. However, it offers cadets a unique experience to explore aviation without cost or obligation.
The mission of the Air Force Junior ROTC program is to develop citizens of character, and this scholarship provides an opportunity for cadets to embrace that mission while reaching for the skies.