Lincoln-Way East student completes new AFJROTC flight academy program

Colin Murphy, a senior student and an Air Force Junior ROTC cadet at Lincoln-Way East has completed the private pilot license training course at Purdue University, earning his private pilot license.

Murphy is one of 150 Air Force Junior ROTC cadets around the world to receive the Chief of Staff of the Air Force scholarship from Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama.

More than 1,600 cadets applied for one of the 150 scholarships, valued at approximately $20,000.

Graduates of the program who earned their private pilot license do not incur a military commitment to the Air Force or other branch of service, nor does completing the program guarantee acceptance into one of the military’s commissioning programs.

The Flight Academy Scholarship Program is a new Air Force-level initiative. In collaboration with the commercial aviation industry to address the national civilian and military pilot shortage, Air Force Junior ROTC has been charged by the Air Force Aircrew Crisis Task Force to bring back the “luster of aviation” to high school students and to increase diversity in aviation fields.

During Murphy’s time in the program, he faced many challenges, but completing the program is something he said he will always remember.

Air Force Junior ROTC is a citizenship training program that is designed to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship, promote community service, instill personal responsibility, character and self-discipline.

The program achieves this through classroom education in air and space fundamentals and hands-on learning opportunities.

Air Force Junior ROTC is not an USAF accessions program and cadets are never under any obligation to join the military.