Valparaiso University Air Force ROTC (Unofficial Page)

12/08/2018

Check out this video of Valpo Air Force ROTC alum Chris Walsh ('09), an Air Force special tactics officer, on his journey to represent the United States in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics!

Valparaiso University | Air Force ROTC Detachment 225

05/12/2016

Valpo Air Force ROTC alumni recently linked up for a picture opportunity at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. From left to right: Jessica Pochron (VU '15), Billy Pochron (VU '13), and Sarah Mannix (VU '11).

02/07/2016

Getting ready to watch the ? First check out the latest Valpo Air Force ROTC alumni flag picture!

Valparaiso University alum Chris Walsh (VU '09) brought the flag with him to Iraq, where he's supporting Operation Inherent Resolve and taking the fight to ISIS.

The Valpo Air Force ROTC flag was purchased by cadets at Valpo in 2010 and has traveled around the world ever since. Det 225 alumni from Valpo have posed with the flag, helping to highlight the broad scope of their contributions to the United States Air Force.

12/10/2015

Valpo Air Force ROTC cadets head off to a combat dining-in at Notre Dame during the 2005-6 school year

09/17/2015

Valparaiso University Air Force ROTC alum Dan Santiago (VU '05) carried the Valpo Air Force ROTC alumni flag to a country it's never been before...North Korea. During a trip to the Korean Joint Security Area (JSA) and Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with his weather detachment from Camp Red Cloud, Korea, Dan brought along the alumni flag. While visiting the meeting room where negotiations between South Korean and North Koreans take place, he ensured that the flag crossed the boundary between the two countries and brought a little taste of freedom to the North. Although he was not allowed to take a picture with the alumni flag in the meeting room, Dan did snag a picture with the flag outside the visitor's center at the JSA. North Korea marks the fifth country the Valpo Air Force ROTC flag has been in besides the United States.

Dan is the commander of Detachment 1, 607th Weather Squadron at Camp Red Cloud and serves as 2ID's Staff Weather Officer. He leads the northern-most US weather unit on the Korean peninsula and is responsible for ensuring the personnel in his detachment are ready to respond to any contingencies with North Korea with relevant, accurate, and timely weather support.

The Valpo Air Force ROTC flag was purchased by cadets at Valpo in 2010 and has traveled around the world ever since. Det 225 alumni from Valpo have posed with the flag, helping to highlight the broad scope of their contributions to the United States Air Force.

09/15/2015

Valparaiso University Air Force ROTC alum Shane Gillies (VU '06) and his weather flight at Yokota Air Base, just outside Tokyo, Japan, were the feature of a recent American Forces Network (AFN) news spot about tropical cyclone support for the area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39WjycB0FMs

During the typhoon season, there are procedures that base meteorologists must take to prepare residents for possible typhoons in the Kanto Plain. Airman Firs...

08/22/2015

It's Valparaiso University move-in day today...welcome back everyone! Interested in serving your country? Want to see the world? Check out the Valpo Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program! For more information, please see Dr. Kraft in the Electrical Engineering department (Gellersen Hall, Room 201).

08/19/2015

After stops in Alaska and Japan, the Valparaiso University Air Force ROTC flag continued its Pacific trip with its second-ever visit to South Korea. This time, the flag is in possession of alum Dan Santiago (VU '05) at Camp Red Cloud. Located north of Seoul and just 20 miles from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) with North Korea, Camp Red Cloud is the home of the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division (2ID).

Dan is the commander of Detachment 1, 607th Weather Squadron at Camp Red Cloud and serves as 2ID's Staff Weather Officer. He leads the northern-most US weather unit on the Korean peninsula and is responsible for ensuring the personnel in his detachment are ready to respond to any contingencies with North Korea with relevant, accurate, and timely weather support.

The Valpo Air Force ROTC flag was purchased by cadets at Valpo in 2010 and has traveled around the world ever since. Det 225 alumni from Valpo have posed with the flag, helping to highlight the broad scope of their contributions to the United States Air Force. This is the 23rd stop for the flag.

07/27/2015

Before sending the Valparaiso University Air Force ROTC flag on to its next destination, alum Shane Gillies (VU '06) captured one additional picture. Taking the flag to its highest point ever for a picture, Shane climbed with it to the top of Mount Fuji, Japan's tallest point with an elevation of 12,395ft. He braved gusty winds and near-freezing temperatures at Mt Fuji's volcanic crater for the picture.

Shane is the weather flight commander for the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota AB outside Tokyo and also serves as the Senior Meteorological and Oceanographic Officer for United States Forces Japan (USFJ) and 5th Air Force. Additionally, he is the US Government's representative on environmental affairs to the Government of Japan.

The Valpo Air Force ROTC flag was purchased by cadets at Valpo in 2010 and has traveled around the world ever since. Det 225 alumni from Valpo have posed with the flag, helping to highlight the broad scope of their contributions to the United States Air Force. Japan marks the 22nd stop for the flag.

07/20/2015

The Valparaiso University Air Force ROTC flag recently made its first appearance in Japan with a visit to Yokota Air Base located just outside Tokyo. Alum Shane Gillies (VU '06) brought the flag out to the weather flight's official observing point for a picture featuring the base's C-130 Hercules aircraft as a backdrop. Yokota AB is the Western Pacific's airlift hub for peacetime and contingency operations, including the recent humanitarian relief operations following the major earthquakes in Nepal.

Shane is the weather flight commander for the 374th Airlift Wing and also serves as the Senior Meteorological and Oceanographic Officer for United States Forces Japan (USFJ) and 5th Air Force. Additionally, he is the US Government's representative on environmental affairs to the Government of Japan.

The Valpo Air Force ROTC flag was purchased by cadets at Valpo in 2010 and has traveled around the world ever since. Det 225 alumni from Valpo have posed with the flag, helping to highlight the broad scope of their contributions to the United States Air Force. This is the 22nd stop for the flag.

07/07/2015

Valpo Air Force ROTC alum Chris Miko (VU '13) captured a picture with the Valpo Air Force ROTC flag outside one of the gates at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). JBER is located just outside Anchorage, Alaska.

Chris is a communications officer with the 673d Communications Squadron where he leads the Client System section, overseeing IT asset management, client systems technicians, the help desk, and executive IT support for the base. His section has the most interaction with the rest of the base, ensuring that all of the other units can accomplish their missions with the right communications support.

The Valpo Air Force ROTC flag was purchased by cadets at Valpo in 2010 and has been traveling around the world since. Det 225 alumni from Valpo have posed with the flag, helping to highlight the broad scope of their contributions to the United States Air Force. This was the flag's first trip to Alaska.