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Getting into the summer mindset: OTS, ROTC staff prepares for training surge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Lake
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  While many are planning on big vacations and some relaxation during the next few months, Officer Training School and ROTC cadre members are "digging in" for a busy summer.

The OTS staff will train more than 800 commissioned officer trainees between June and August. The "summer surge" is in addition to the constantly running 12-week basic officer trainee program that produces 500 officers each fiscal year.

During the same time period, ROTC cadre are also preparing to process more than 2,600 ROTC cadets who must complete summer field training at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., or Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., to be commissioned.

The 1,250 ROTC cadets trained at Maxwell will cross paths with their OTS trainee counterparts on certain occasions because they will share facilities, according to Maj. Brian Grelk, 22nd Training Support Squadron director of operations.

"OTS provides access to all of our training facilities including the auditoriums, physical conditioning facilities, the Leadership Reaction Course, confidence course, Blue Thunder Air Expeditionary Force site, as well as the dining facility," Major Grelk said. "ROTC is considered an 'equal seat at the table' along with our basic officer training and commissioned officer training when it comes to using OTS resources."

Brig. Gen. Alfred Flowers, Air Force Officer Accessions and Training Schools commander, said in the near future OTS and ROTC training will be even more integrated as the Air Force's largest commissioning organization evolves into an Officer Training School Center of Excellence.

With just a few weeks remaining before the "surge," Maj. Anthony Williams, ROTC training branch chief, said both the OTS and ROTC staff are making final adjustments while gathering course materials, planning activities and schedules and tying up any loose ends.

"Both the ROTC and OTS staff have been working hard and working together to prepare the facilities and staff for the summer surge," he said. "We will be ready."