NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- More than 40 cadets from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the Rochester Institute of Technology took part in a field training exercise here, Saturday, May 6, 2017. The focus of the exercise, known as a Field Training Preparation Leadership Laboratory, is to prepare sophomore cadets for their summer evaluation at Maxwell, AFB Alabama.
“The event is designed to challenge each cadet’s discipline, decision-making [skills], critical analysis, wingmanship, and other qualities required to be an effective Air Force officer,” said Cadet Capt. Colin W. Dziadaszek, Leadership Laboratory Planning Officer.
This is the first time a training event of this kind has taken place at Niagara. With multiple events taking place over the course of a weekend, the cadets were able to interact firsthand with Air Force officers and enlisted members of the Reserve.
“The ability to utilize the facilities at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station has been phenomenal,” said Capt. Gijsbert Talledo, Operations Flight Commander and Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at RIT. “It has been a game changer for our program.” Talledo is the former 914th Force Support Squadron Readiness Chief here.
Support for exercise came from several areas across the base to ensure the success of the cadet’s training exercise. Cots were provided by the 914th Security Forces Squadron and the 914th Force Support Squadron arranged lodging with a mock-deployed environment in the base gym. The 914th Maintenance Squadron also provided cadets with a tour of a KC-135.
“It truly allowed us to create a unique and realistic experience that tested each cadet’s leadership abilities,” said Dziadaszek. “On behalf of Detachment 538, I would like to thank the entire 914th AW for their generosity and support of our program.”