Armed Forces Day Salute

On May 16th, Wade Hampton cadets marched down Main Street of Greenville to show their respect for all members of the armed forces - past and present. The marching unit was highlighted by 12 cadets carrying a large American flag. Josh Whitaker served as Corps Commander for the event, and our cadets drew applause all the way to Fluor Field. It was a great day to show our city just how much we appreciate the service of all the military departments.

Sword Presented in Charleston

On Saturday, May 9th, the Sword of Excellence - the symbol of the best of 42 AFJROTC units in South Carolina - became the possession of Wade Hampton for the first time. But it will not be the last. Mr. Radford and his wife accompanied the instructors and cadets to Charleston AFB for the presentation at the South Carolina Air Force Association Convention. Ms. Catherine Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Jake Hinnant also joined us for the special event.

The "Sword" was presented to SC-954 by the Vice Commander of 9th Air Force, Major General William Holland, and the Director of AFJROTC, Colonel Richard Ragaller. Our Area Administrator, Colonel Wade Hampton Williford, was also at the ceremony to support our unit's award. The cadets enjoyed a fine lunch, but they enjoyed the ceremony even more as they posed for numerous photos. Kevin Hinnant was also presented with the Cadet Air Force Association Award. We will re-present that award during our annual awards ceremony on May 18th.

The Perfect Florida Get-Away

On Wednesday, 29 April, cadets, instructors, and chaperones from Wade Hampton and Blue Ridge AFJROTC launched a four-day trip to the Emerald Coast of Florida. Beautiful white beaches and an Air Force-rich area awaited. We were greeted warmly at the Hampton Inn on Okaloosa Island, and we were in bed shortly after arrival. Words cannot describe just how comfortable the "cloud nine" beds were. The next day, Jennifer Ward, our host at Hampton Inn, made us feel right at home. For four days we were treated to great hospitality, delicious food, and a spotless hotel with all the amenities possible. We are hoping that we can work the same trip next year - with some different Air Force sights.

Special Operations Up Close

The highlight of our trip came on day one as TSgt Kristina Newton from the Hurlburt Field Public Affairs office arranged a wonderful visit with the 4th Special Operations Squadron that flies the AC-130U gunship. After a photo-session at the Special Operations "air park", we were privileged to spend most of the morning seeing this awesome aircraft up close and personal. Several 4th SOS crew members took us through every section of the AC-130. Cadets were amazed that an aircraft could have so many weapons and such firepower. The 105 Howitzer cannon got everyone's attention. One of Colonel Pittman's former cadets, Captain Drew Brown, joined us and was kind enough to get us all "challenge coins" from the 4th. He is an intelligence officer assigned to the base. The visit was a reunion for Colonel Pittman, a former gunship crew member, who posed with the present-day crew members for our group photo.

A Walk Through Aviation History

The Air Force Armament Museum outside Eglin AFB provided Wade Hampton and Blue Ridge cadets with a glimpse of airpower that will have a lasting impact. From the atomic bomb, "Fat Boy", that was dropped in WWII to high-performance jets, our cadets saw the full spectrum of aerospace development. Outside the museum were dozens of aircraft including those from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. Inside the museum, cadets viewed displays, static aircraft, and moving engines that traced the history of aircraft development and use in wartime. This part of the trip certainly received an A+ in educational value.

Athletic Competition A Draw!

The Generals of Wade Hampton are always up for a challenge, and Blue Ridge was very accommodating. After much banter back-and-forth, the golfing challenge commenced at the historic Goofy Golf course in Fort Walton beach. This landmark has been around for 50 years, and it still provides a real test. Sadly, Blue Ridge claimed the victory, and to make matters worse, Colonel Pittman's 15-year unbeaten record was shattered by Lt Col David Rogers as he sank the putt on the last hole to win by a shot. Kevin Hinnant and Graves Newell were launching shots off the course, but we did see Abby Harrison score an "ace". In the end, we went down by about 30 strokes. BUT, the Generals did not give up and responded with a four touchdown to one victory in beach football. Andrew Hooper, Chris Savage, Lawrence McDowell, and others kept our pride in tact. Rumors of a rematch in both sports are circulating - same time, same place next year.

Good Food in Florida!

Every good field trip is measured by the food consumed, and we put down a ton! Every morning started with a free hot breakfast consisting of muffins, eggs, sausage, cereal, juice, coffee (good coffee), fruit, and much more. We ate a great lunch at Hurlburt Field the first day, then we took advantage of the Boardwalk's fine eats, Waffle House, and the Santa Rosa Mall food court. The cadets ate free Firehouse subs two nights and free pizza the third. In between, we consumed large volumes of gelato, Firehouse brownies (one Colonel ate four), cookies, and the ever-present chips aplenty. Nobody came home hungry (except maybe "Tapeworm" McCullough), and some adults are dodging the scales.

The Beach Was The Bomb!

The sugar white sands of Fort Walton were a main attraction on the trip, and our cadets got lots of time to enjoy the beach. From football games to late-evening drill for leadership school, they kept themselves covered with the fine white sand. We put out fair warning that sunscreen was a mandatory item for beach-goers, but we noticed a few who were approaching the pale lobster phase. A gentle - OK stern - re-coat order went out immediately. Josh Whitaker and Erin Fuller got the best of a couple sharks, and MSgt Clere gave the leadership school hopefuls a real workout. Cadets found out that the fine sand can be hard on the legs.