Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps cadet Josh Woodard last month learned he has selected for pilot training at the U.S. Air Force's flight school following his graduation next year from the University of North Dakota.
A Civil Air Patrol news release said Woodard was among 750 AFROTC college juniors nationwide who applied for the competitive positions . Only 502 were awarded slots.
The 21-year-old Baxter native credited his time as a cadet with the Crow Wing Squadron of the Minnesota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol with providing him with skills needed to succeed in ROTC
“It definitely gave me an advantage because I already had leadership training and experience gained through CAP. I was able to immediately apply what I had learned as a CAP cadet in ROTC,” said Woodard.
Woodard was a CAP cadet from 2004-2010, spending time as cadet commander at Crow Wing Squadron and serving in key leadership positions at annual Minnesota Wing encampments held at nearby Camp Ripley.
During his CAP time Woodard also earned his private pilot’s license and instrument ratings, crediting Senior Members of the Crow Wing Squadron for their encouragement.
Admission into the Air Force’s Undergraduate Pilot Training program is based on physical fitness, overall grade point average, field training leadership score and commander ranking. There are also a variety of tests, including standardized tests of verbal and quantitative skills as well as a test of practical skills. Cadets are then given a national ranking among all applicants.
Woodard was selected as the top cadet of underclassmen at UND AFROTC Detachment 106 in both his freshman and sophomore years.
Being accepted into UPT entails a 10-year commitment in the Air Force, which suits Woodard just fine since he has always wanted to be a pilot.
