Alumna to take the sky; Prep for field training starts

Evan Kuzemchak, Features Editor

  “For ROTC my biggest accomplishment is contracting recently and deciding that this was truly the path that I wanted to take for my future,” says alumna Jessica Gerhardt about her experience in the ROTC program. 

     Gerhardt “decided in high school that [she] wanted to go the ROTC path.” Her “family was very supportive when I wanted to take the ROTC path in college.” Her parents helped her “through the process of applying for a scholarship.”

   Eventually, Gerhardt “applied for a high school scholarship and received one in March 2020,” for a “3 year type 2” scholarship where Gerhardt receives “tuition assistance from the Air Force now, in exchange for service after” her graduation. Gerhardt recently “just contracted and signed with the USAF and committed to giving my service.” after graduation. 

     In high school, Gerhardt spent a lot of time “worrying about [her] grades and striving for a high GPA.” Throughout high school she “took opportunities to get involved a lot through clubs and sports.” Gerhardt took advantage of quarantine by “getting into better shape to help succeed” in her physical fitness aspect.

     Now Gerhardt is a sophomore at “Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University […] studying Aeronautical Science and also in Air Force ROTC.” On top of that, Gerhardt is “currently working on [her] private pilots license.” By the time Gerhardt graduates she will have her commercial pilots license. All together Gerhardt has “around 80 hours of flight training.”

     Gerhardt is also, “currently preparing for my Field Training Preparation (FTP) semester in the spring. This is said to be the hardest semester as it prepares the sophomores for their summer after sophomore year at Field Training which is a 2-3 week program at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.” to prepare, Gerhardt is taking every opportunity to work on grades and physical health. Gerhardts PT(physical training) is treated as a class, she has one regular classroom time a week that she has to work into her schedule for her degree requirements. 

     Gerhardt and her fellow students in training “do a lot of external things with ROTC that are not mandatory but” she tries “to attend as much as possible because most of [her] bestfriends are in ROTC.” Gerhardt has “a small group of friends from ROTC that all work together on school work and dedicate time to workout together outside of PT.” Gerhardt also has been mentally preparing for having to wake up earlier than she already does. Gerhardt spends her free time “working out or studying”.

     After this summer, Gerhardt “will be in charge of teaching the younger cadets all of the values of the Air Force.” Gerhardt ends, saying “I am very happy with my decisions.”