By ALISA THOMAS

Staff Writer

Commander of Air Force ROTC Detachment 305, Col. Ray T. Garza, gathered the cadets of Tech’s Air Force ROTC March 24 in the Wyly Tower of Learning Auditorium for their quarterly commander’s call.

Unit Admissions Officer Maj. Jim Tucker explained the commander’s call as a means of the commander recognizing good performance from cadets and wings. He also gave a discussion about the issues, policies and expectations in the university's detachment.

“Students get a chance to see the commander, and there is public recognition of people doing good work,” Tucker said. “That promotes appropriate behavior for others to follow.”

The program began with the commander making presentations to detachment members.

First Lt. Lance Merkley was presented with the Air Force Commendation Medal for his service as Officer in Charge of Maintenance Special Operation, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 437th Maintenance Group, and 437th Airlift Wing of Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina.

Both Brendan Banks, a cadet and a freshman health and physical education major and Merkley received recognition from Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau for their presentation at Benton High School, in Benton, La. concerning the Air Force ROTC program.

Banks said he enjoys the Air Force ROTC program and is glad he was able to share his ROTC experience with others.

“I love Air Force ROTC; there is a lot of camaraderie, you learn life-long lessons and values and gain life-long friends,” Banks said.

Sgt. Kreig Cressione was given an award of merit for his participation and completion in the Air Force ROTC’s non-commissioned officer’s orientation course.

The non-commissioned officer’s orientation course was formed to teach other non-commissioned officers how to commission and contract cadets in their particular detachment.

Andrea Searor, a cadet captain and a senior biology major, considers the commander’s call as the cadets’ way of getting to know the commander.

“It gives the commander an opportunity to speak directly to his cadets, to discuss manners both positive and negative at a time when he otherwise would have not been able to,” Searor said.

After the presentations, Garza reminded the detachment of important upcoming dates such as Senior Dinner, April 24 at Garza’s house to the Change of Command Parade, May 7 and then loosened up the cadets with some basketball jokes.

Garza then changed to a rather serious discussion of the importance of excellence and character and how it counts in the Air Force ROTC program.

The commander then departed, leaving the detachment leaders in charge.

Detachment leaders focused on other issues concerning the strength of the detachment and ways of improving.

These discussions were on Physical Training and Physical Training Attendance led by Capt. John Morris, Techniques to improve Physical Fitness Training led by 1st Lt. Merkley and Safety led by Maj. Tucker.