AFROTC honors three elite graduates Published Aug. 17, 2010 By Carl Bergquist Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Three graduates of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training School who went on to be top leaders in their fields were honored recently in a ceremony at Maxwell Air Force Base. Former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper, former Air Education and Training Command Commander Gen. Lloyd Newton and Gen. Roger Brady, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, were at Maxwell to be inducted into the AFROTC Distinguished Alumni program July 30. Col. John McCain, AFROTC commander, said the nation looks to ROTC for military officers and the three generals being honored had a combined total of 115 years of service. He said through their leadership and numerous accomplishments, they "embody the character" which AFROTC instills in all of its future leaders, and they "merit the recognition and prestige" associated with the award. "On behalf of the men and women of AFROTC, past, present and future, we are proud to recognize our distinguished honorees," Colonel McCain said. General Jumper said he was honored by the award and said ROTC is a "unique opportunity" for young people to transform their lives. "In the way of a few quick words to the cadets, the lives of the three people you are looking at here on this stage were profoundly changed by AFROTC," he said. "You all don't know it right now, but you have already made the most important decision of your life by choosing to be a part of something bigger than yourselves." General Jumper told the cadets not to be worried about where their careers are going, just to do what they are assigned in the best way they can, and they will be successful. General Newton echoed General Jumpers' comments. "There was a time when I was trying to plan my career and was getting nowhere," he said. "Finally, I stopped worrying about what my next assignment was going to be, did what was before me and things went very well after that." General Brady said he was honored and humbled by the award, and that Generals Jumper and Newton had given him some advice before he was to speak. "They told me to speak as long as possible, because, you never know, it may be your last chance," he joked. "Seriously, I am honored by this award, but in many ways, the honor should go to AFROTC for all that it has done for us and continues to do for all ROTC cadets and graduates." General Brady said the AFROTC program is unique in America because it ties the Air Force to American society through universities, and that is extremely important. When asked how he became involved in AFROTC, the general said he received a lot of encouragement from his soon-to-be father-in-law. He said his family had a history of military service, but not career service, and with everyone going in because of the Vietnam War, he decided to enter the ROTC program in college. General Jumper said his father was military, and he grew up in the company of many military heroes. It just seemed natural for him to go into the military. He said he didn't have an ambition to attend the Air Force Academy, so AFROTC seemed the best way to go. General Newton said he grew up on a farm in South Carolina and really wanted be a part of the Air Force. "I just wanted one of those Air Force uniforms," he joked. "I was ready to enlist out of high school, but one of my teachers talked me into going to college, so I also signed up for ROTC. I was going to get that uniform one way or the other." The distinguished alumni recognition program was established in October 2007, and both military members and civilians are eligible for the recognition.