AFROTC on ‘Wingmanship’

Det.752 ThunderAFROTC Detachment 752 has a long history of serving the Wilkes-Barre community and constantly strives to improve and expand its abilities to benefit both the city and the university.

The Detachment has always attempted to contribute as much as possible to the public and, whether its efforts take the form of Honor Guard appearances in local sporting events or acts of community service, all members of Det. 752, including their psychological service dog, Libby, strive to exemplify the Air Force core value of “Service Before Self” every day.

Wilkes University has been training Airmen to fly, fight and win since 1973 and has taught and prepared hundreds of young men and women to serve as officers in the world’s greatest Air Force ever since.

One notable success story is Detachment 752 graduate, Captain Candice Adams Ismirle, who, in spite of her battle with cancer, was not only a shining example of an outstanding Air Force Officer, but was also a distinct display of the strength and honor that each and every Airman exemplifies.

The Detachment continues to grow in number, strength and spirit. In fact, some recent groundbreaking improvements can be seen in its move to the University Center on Main and its instillation of the Cadre Office and Cadet Lounge.

In the past, Det. 752 moved around the Wilkes University campus in search of a new home at an average of every two years. It has since seen a serious upgrade and now experiences a more effective work environment than ever before. As a result, the cadets are not only more productive than ever but have also grown stronger as a team and a family.

While the Detachment’s mission is to develop leaders for the Air Force with discipline and integrity, dedicated to serving the nation, one of the most important lessons that graduates come away with is that of wingmanship.

A term that is not often heard outside of the Air Force, wingmanship means looking out for and taking care of one another and at all times, even when it may not be convenient. It means mutual support, situational awareness, and individual reliability. It is a concept as old as the Air Force itself, and the Cadre does everything in their power to instill this in cadets as they guide them towards the end goal of commissioning as an officer in the Air Force.

During their time in the program, cadets are strongly encouraged to practice comradery. Det. 752 looks toward Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark A Welsh III, as a model for showing their care for others.

“Caring for each other is one of the Air Force’s three keys to success, along with common sense and communication,” said Welsh during a visit to South Korea, according to a press release by the United States Air Force. “I know that all of you care a lot. You care about each other, your professions and your families. Think about the people you work with, that you’re sitting beside, think about your family and theirs. We’ll never care enough about them. We have to care more.”

Detachment 752 has always cared for all of its members and for those in the Wilkes community and will continue to do so in the years to come.