ROTC cadets visit Shaw, take oath

Published Feb. 16, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Approximately 84 cadets from Detachment 290, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps from the University of Kentucky arrived here Feb. 11 for a base tour and watched a demonstration by the F-16 Viper East demonstration team Feb. 12.

After the tour, three cadets took the oath of enlistment. They were Mercedes Rosado, a junior majoring in nursing; Nicholas Jayjock, a junior majoring in engineering; and Courtney Allen, a sophomore majoring in political science and history.

According to Jayjock, the visit here was part of the cadets' annual orientation to see how bases operate.

"Shaw is one of the only bases where they could see how the Air Force goes to war," said Capt. Mickey Jordan from Det. 290.

"We were scheduled to fly today anyways, heard the cadets were coming and figured we'd give them a show," said Capt. Ryan "Rider" Corrigan, F-16 Viper East Demonstration Team pilot.

"Seeing the F-16 demonstration was a real treat," said Cadet Jayjock.

Cadets said they were happy to come to Shaw. It was especially exciting for one cadet enlistee. "It was nice to take the oath at Shaw," Jayjock added, "Otherwise, it would have been done in a boring classroom."