GRHS grad to become instructor

Cadet 3rd Class, Reece M. Clingenpeel, a sophomore at the United States Air Force Academy, was recently selected to join the 94th Flying Training Squadron to train to become a soaring instruction pilot at USAFA.

Clingenpeel, a 2015 Green River High School graduate, is a computer science major and had been on the Dean’s list all three semester at USAFA. Clingenpeel hopes to attend undergraduate pilot training after graduating from USAFA.

The 94th Flaying Training Squadron conducts the largest glider operation in North America, flying over 17,000 sorties each year. The goal of the soaring program is to expose, motivate and challenge cadets to airmanship.

Cadets get their first opportunity to soar during their freshman academic year through “Introduction to Soaring,” a four-flight program designed to expose freshman to airmanship and inspire them to take advantage of future airmanship opportunities at the USAFA

Following their freshman year, 300 of the more than 1,000 new sophomore cadets are selected for “Basic Soaring,” a summer, 14-flight program that includes an opportunity to solo. During this motivational training, students develop the essential elements of airmanship in a military flying environment.

At the end of each summer, the 94th Flying Training Squadron handpicks approximately 80 “Basic Soaring” graduates to upgrade as soaring instructor pilots during their sophomore academic year. Following academies, 81 demanding training flights and a formal Air Force flight evaluation, these cadets earn their G-Wings and become the Air Force’s youngest instructor pilots, conducting more than 90 percent of soaring training at the USAFA.

Select Cadet Soaring Instructor Pilots qualify to join either the cross country or aerobatic teams, which compete in both regional and national competitions. Cross country team members learn to stay aloft for up to four or more hours before returning to the airfield. Aerobatic team members learn advanced maneuvers such as loops, rolls, spins, hammerheads, tail slides, Cuban eights and snap rolls.