With one part education, two parts inspiration and a dash of recruiting, the vice commander of Air Force Space Command rounded out the fall semester for Air Force ROTC cadets here Dec. 5. Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz told about 50 cadets and their parents that newly minted Air Force second lieutenants must concentrate on taking care of their people and improving their technical proficiency.
"You are establishing your reputation on your very first day on the job," said General Klotz.
Drawing on his experiences as defense attache to Moscow, the general encouraged the aspiring officers to study cultures and languages to better understand the areas of the world where more than 200,000 Airmen are now engaged in the war on terrorism.
The general also asked the cadets, gathered from more than a dozen area colleges and universities, to consider careers in the space and missile field. He explained that the Air Force of today and tomorrow needs officers with technical degrees in order to maintain and grow these important capabilities.
"The U.S. Air Force has been at war for 15 years," General Klotz told the audience, which had gathered at St. Joseph University's Teletorium for the cadets' final meeting of the fall semester. "Combat operations at or near the surface of the Earth have become dependent upon the capability we provide from space."
About 25 cadets and parents stayed behind to meet the general after his speech. Many cadets told General Klotz they were interested in pursuing careers in space, missiles and cyberspace operations.
