We’ll step Off the Field to take a closer look at some of the Republic students who are competing in non-sports activities. Our report is brought to you by State Farm Agent Sarah Rader. Talk to her about how you can save money by combining your home and auto insurance.
We’re stepping off the field to feature AFJROTC cadet Noah Johnson. Johnson earned the 2018 Chief of Staff, Flight Academy Private Pilot Scholarship from Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. He’s one of just 120 cadets to win the award, which will cover the cost of a private pilot license training program next summer.
“I would like to get my private pilot’s license to have a more competitive edge to get into the United States Air Force Academy,” Johnson says. “Hopefully, once I get into the Academy, I will successfully graduate with a bachelor’s degree and a better chance of getting into the Air Force’s flight training program, becoming an Air Force pilot. That’s the goal.”
Eventually, Johnson says he may become a civilian pilot for an airline, or he may fly as a hobby.
Johnson says he’s learned a lot from his AFJROTC experience at Republic High School that helped him earned the scholarship.
“I have learned how to communicate more effectively. I have more confidence in myself and the decisions I make, I learned how to respect other people’s ideals and support them in any way I can,” he says. “I feel as though I was offered a second chance through JROTC and I hit the ground running with that chance.”
Johnson also credits the support he’s received from Republic High School’s Colonel Patrick Sanders, who he says had “utmost confidence” that he could win the scholarship.
“I appreciate Colonel’s trust and support now more than ever, and I am gracious that he has helped me get to where I am today.”
The Flight Academy Scholarship 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 JROTC has been charged by the Air Force Aircrew Crisis Task Force to bring back the “luster of aviation” to high school students and increase diversity in aviation fields.
Applicants must be AFJROTC cadets, must be at least 16 years old, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) to submit a package or be nominated. Applicants may be current sophomores, juniors or seniors.