04/16/2026
Thanks to generous support from , senior Det 535 cadets participated in a staff ride to the National Command Region (NCR) in late March. Cadets participated in a preflight briefing with a UH-1 crew, observed an exercise alert activation involving the entire UH-1 squadron, and executed a subsequent training sortie around the heavily restricted Washington, D.C. airspace. Cadets also visited the Pentagon, where they gained firsthand insight into the highest echelons of military decision-making. Their visit included an engagement with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Dan Caine, who enthusiastically recalled his time in Syracuse as an F-16 pilot at Hancock Air National Guard Base. The experience was a highlight of the seniors’ time in AFROTC and underscores the incredible access and opportunities afforded to Det 535 cadets.