12-04-2025
From classroom to cockpit: MISD Cadets take off on military flight
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A group of Midland ISD Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) cadets got a hands-on lesson in military aviation this week, and it all started with a walk across the flight line.
During a visit to Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, cadets boarded a Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, bringing their classroom lessons on aerospace science and military operations to life.
Video from the trip shows cadets walking in formation toward the plane before taking flight, an experience their instructors say is key to preparing them for future success. You may watch that video in the player above.
'This visit to Dyess AFB reinforced everything our cadets have been learning in the classroom,' said Chief Master Sergeant Jeff Deynzer, MISD AFJROTC instructor. 'It is experiences like these that truly inspire our cadets and enforces them to be military ready upon graduation.'
AFJROTC is a U.S. Air Force-sponsored program offered to MISD students in grades 9 through 12. The program blends academic instruction with leadership training, personal development, and a student-led organizational structure that mirrors real-world military principles.
Cadets in the program can also apply for several scholarship opportunities, including the J-100 Character-in-Leadership Scholarship, the Flight Academy Scholarship for earning a private pilot's license, and the Cyber Academy Scholarship, which provides college-level credits in cyber education.
MISD officials said programs like AFJROTC align with the district's goal of ensuring every student graduates from college, career, or military ready.
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