Gleneagle Sertoma members and guests enjoyed a field trip to the Davis Airfield on the grounds of the US Air Force Academy recently where they met with cadets and staff of the 94th Flight Training Squadron, the academy’s “glider program.”

Director of Operations Lt. Col. Collin O’Bryant, greeted the group with an overview of the three primary components of the squadron’s mission:

Air Awareness – introducing the roughly 400 cadets in the program per year to flight through the glider program.

Leadership Development – selected cadets receive further training toward qualifying for the glider instructor program, becoming leaders and instructing underclassmen in the program’s basics.

Public Relations – the squadron’s cadet representatives perform flying demonstrations, provide static displays, and compete in aerobatic and flight competitions, bringing USAFA representation to the public with very positive impact.

“When you look up and see those beautiful white gliders soaring above the Academy,” Gleneagle Sertoma Club President Vicki Wynn said, “we will take extra pride in the fact that they are being piloted by some of the most outstanding young future leaders for our country.”

Among those future leaders are three cadets from the instructor program who addressed the group, sharing their pre-USAFA experience, as well as their current duties and the path that brought them there.

“The cadets’ comments were truly enlightening, uplifting, and inspiring,” Sertoman Duane Gritzmaker said. “Not only was each prepared presentation clear, concise and so very interesting, but they answered the club members’ questions comfortably with the same poise and confidence.”

Cadet presenters were: Leanne Gujski, class of 2026, a selectee for the instructor pilot program, now going through the rigorous additional training required to qualify to teach other cadets. She got her private pilot license while in high school.

Josh Camarillo, class of 2025, who told the group he originally wasn’t sure he wanted to fly, but then stepped up and signed up for the glider program, and followed that with competing for and qualifying for acceptance to be an instructor.

Jack Kastens, class of 2025, who has represented the Academy in glider competitions across the country, as well as serving as a leader in the instruction program’s ranks of cadet leaders.

Although it was too windy for gliders and tow planes to be in action during the visit, the hangar full of gliders at rest brought out a lot of cameras to snap photos.