UNG cadets visited U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The trip was arranged by retired Lt. Col. Heath Williams, '89, director of liaison and military education.
Article By: Denise Ray
Five members of the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Corps of Cadets participated in a six-week aviation ground school course.
Stan Allen, a retired UNG employee and Vietnam veteran, again served as the certified flight instructor for the class of five.
"Having a small number taking this makes for a more personal experience and teacher-learner interaction. I try to use the discussion method to enhance the communication factor so they can give me feedback as to their understanding of the material presented. We have good exchanges talking about real-life aviation events," Allen said.
The course provides a valuable experience for those who want to commission into the Army's aviation branch and prepares them for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot written knowledge test.
"I love the ground aviation class. The instructor that teaches us has a ton of experience in the field of aviation and has lots of cool stories as well. He also brings in models to help show us how it works," cadet Corey Scheib said.
A sophomore from Suwanee, Georgia, pursuing a degree in psychology, Scheib said he hopes to use the class to help him branch aviation in the Army.
UNG's aviation ground school was developed to provide cadets with basic and theoretical information needed to pilot an aircraft successfully and safely.
retired Lt. Col. Heath Williams, '89
director of liaison and military education
Li-Hung Chang, a senior from New Taipei, Taiwan, pursuing a degree in criminal justice with a concentration in forensics, also praised the class.
Chang will graduate in spring 2023 and will commission in the aviation branch of the Republic of China Army.
"Being part of this program helps me build a strong foundation before going into flight school," Chang said.
The course is offered with no out-of-pocket expense to the cadets as the Office of Leadership and Global Engagement is funding this professional development opportunity.
"The ground school is a great opportunity and yet another way that the ROTC department is trying to set us up for success in our future in the military and civilian sectors," Cadet Benjamin Cato, a senior business major from Vidalia, Georgia said.
Cadets take the class twice a week, in addition to their required military science classes and academic courses.
"UNG's aviation ground school was developed to provide cadets with basic and theoretical information needed to pilot an aircraft successfully and safely," retired Lt. Col. Heath Williams, '89, director of liaison and military education, said. "The main goal of the ground school is to help cadets pass the knowledge test for a private pilot license.”
Williams arranged a visit to U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama, to learn about the Army aviation branch accessions process and what happens once an individual is selected for the Army aviation branch and reports to Fort Rucker for training.
"It was a great opportunity to expose the cadets to Army aviation," Williams, who served as an Army aviator and Army counterintelligence special agent after commissioning from UNG as a second lieutenant, said.
The trip included flight simulators, an alumni gathering and interacting with new second lieutenants at Basic Officer Leader Course.
"The simulators were a very good hands-on experience to motivate cadets wanting to pursue aviation," cadet Carson Ash said. "The alumni dinner was a great way to connect with the UNG family off campus and get some insight to immediate life after UNG. Heath Williams has a wealth of aviation knowledge, and he shared many stories and experiences with the cadets throughout our trip."
