Air Force ROTC Detachment 550

Detachment 550 has built me into the person I am today, without AFROTC I don’t know where I’d be. I’ve had the best four years at RPI and majority of it is due to det 550. I chose ROTC to push myself beyond my limits, physically, mentally, and academically. The opportunities it has created for me have changed my life and I will forever be grateful. 

Favorite memory: meeting my best friends and growing up with so many amazing people.

I am going to Vandenberg SFB in California to complete training for my job as a Nuclear and Missile Operations Officer (13N). I am originally from Suwanee, GA and have 2 sisters (older and younger). I am a huge Star Wars nerd, and love to read old sci-fi novels. I have played hockey since I was 7 years old and still play men’s league with my dad over the summers. My favorite song of all-time is “Fade to Black” by Metallica.
I chose ROTC because I’ve wanted to join the military since I was 9, and my parents told me I had to go in as an officer. I chose Air Force specifically as I did AFJROTC in high school and it had a very positive impact on me. My ultimate goal is to go career and retire after 20+ years.
My favorite memory of the detachment is the Battle of New York my freshmen year at Syracuse University, as everyone went and had fun participating in sports and challenges, and I got to meet many interesting people from other detachments as well.

I chose ROTC because since I was a young kid my favorite colors have always been Red, White and Blue.  I would march around the house with a toy gun on my shoulder with my friends and siblings following me and that translated into my desire to serve my country in what I saw as one of the most honorable ways.  My parents taught me the importance of helping and serving others so being in the military was my way of paying it forward.  I was inspired by the war stories of my grandfathers and great uncle from peeling potatoes to flying into Vietnam in the middle of the night.  Since I joined AFROTC, my favorite moment can be defined by the little things, the wii baseball matches (losing to Owen), the mario kart races (losing to Tomar), the dart matches (beating Gowthaman), the planning business models (with Ethan) and most importantly laughing with everyone about that mornings PT, LLAB or crazy barstool post.

I joined AFROTC because serving in the military was one of the first things I could ever remember wanting to do. I always loved the idea of being in the military and I soon found that ROTC the way to go. My favorite memory is when I went to Creech AFB and used the drone simulators as a part of MACH ROTC has given me friends and experiences that will last a lifetime and I am so grateful for such an amazing community in Detachment 550!

I attended Hudson Valley Community College and that’s where I found out about the program through a friend, AFROTC challenged me to get out of my comfort zone in many ways and it keeps challenging me. The program has helped me become a better version of my self by exposing me to new opportunities, new people and leadership positions that have all shaped me into becoming a better person for myself and for those around me. My favorite memory of the detachment was participating in the Arctic Ranger Challenge especially competing against other detachments during the Army Fitness Test event.

Today the Silver Falcons Honor Guard and Armed Drill Team attended the Military Excellence Competition hosted by the Villanova NROTC. Winning third place in overall drill! 🏆

Congratulations to all those who competed!

Last Friday Det 550 attended the RPI military appreciation hockey game against Yale.

This involved a joint service color guard display made up of cadets from Airforce, Navy, and Army. Cadets Tomar and Blanco represented our Det as a part of this display.

Cadets Lin and Tetreault manned the recruiting table while cadet Johnson participated in a Joint Service Ice Race.

End of year recap!

Wishing all cadets good luck on their finals and their families happy holidays!

Family Day at Detachment 550!
Visiting families were given an introductory briefing on Detachment 550, followed by demonstrations from the Unarmed Drill Team, Armed Drill Team, and Honor Guard. Families and cadets broke out into smaller groups to participate in Group Leadership Projects. Contracting cadets swore the oath of enlistment. The event was concluded with a potluck.

This week at LLAB, cadets participated in the AFWI (Air Force Wargame Indo-Pacific) simulation to practice strategic decision-making in a multi-domain conflict. Team leaders guided their teams through each phase, making critical choices and ensuring everyone understood the mission objectives. The exercise emphasized leadership, communication, and teamwork under pressure. Cadets also received hands-on training in Uniform of the Day (UOD) standards, MEDEVAC 9-line procedures, and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC).