This is me and two other Arnies at one of the AAS national conferences.

I had just completed a 3-mile run, carrying a large flag with the POW/MIA (prisoners of war, missing in action) emblem on it when a car honked at me. I turned to look and was greeted with a friendly face and a wave before it drove off. The driver did not know me, but was showing support for the cause I represented. I was participating in the annual Arnold Air Society 24 hour POW/MIA run over Veteran's Day. For 24 hours, the POW/MIA flag was in constant motion, whether it was because people were running with it or just carrying it as they walked. Who coordinates the memorial? Arnold Air Society (AAS), a national honorary service organization. AAS is affiliated with Air Force ROTC and the Air Force Association. Every AAS squadron (chapter) is located at a ROTC detachment and organized geographically. 

POW/MIA flag

During my first few weeks of ROTC, I debated whether I wanted to join AAS. I had my options of extracurricular activities and wanted to do everything but I was unsure of how I would balance those activities with ROTC and academics. The notion of joining a service organization was appealing to me, but I had a variety to choose from at Washington University. However, AAS is different from the rest because it focuses on developing professionalism and the service projects were often military related. An example would be the POW/MIA run, but another would be compiling stories from US veterans. I toyed with joining AAS at a later date, but a friend strongly suggested that I join it right away. I took his advice figuring that if I couldn't handle the time commitment, I could always quit. 

I attended the first meeting expecting a social organization that sat around and discussed upcoming service projects, but boy was I wrong. First of all, no one was automatically granted membership into AAS. The first semester was our candidate period in which we had to prove our dedication and interest to the cause, a fact of which I was unaware. I showed up at the first meeting wearing shorts and sandals, but all the active members, or Arnies as they're affectionately called, were wearing their cadet uniforms. Immediately, all the candidates were taught a few basic drill movements and marching steps. My sandals were hardly the appropriate footwear for marching. We were given a training manual to study from and set up projects for the semester. As a candidate class, we had to come up with fundraising and service projects. I went home that afternoon hoping I hadn't bitten off more than I could chew.

The candidate training process for me was very trying at times. I had to memorize "warrior knowledge" which included facts about AAS, a poem, the Air Force mission, etc. I had to be ready to spout it out whenever asked, and I had to know it verbatim. I endured a lot of physical training and exercises in attention to detail. For example, as a group we would be given 5 minutes to organize a classroom. This meant all the desks had to be lined up, trash removed from the room, chalkboards clean, etc. We had to be quick but thorough. The purpose of all of this training was to develop our professionalism as well as leadership. Unfortunately, the time commitment and expectations became too stressful for some, so I sadly watched my fellow candidates drop out of the program one by one. In the end, only five of us completed the program and were inducted as active members into AAS. 

It was difficult for me to see the big picture as a candidate, because I usually concerned about small things such as memorizing my warrior knowledge. After having been in the organization for five years, I realize the significance of being in such an organization. As a national organization, we have provided service to the community, an awareness of POW/MIA to children and through the Air Force Association act as a voice for cadets to lobby Congress on a variety of matters that affect Air Force ROTC. One of the most exciting activities I enjoyed with AAS was the national conference. These conferences were four days filled with meetings, banquets and parties. Held in a different city each year, hundreds of members get together to honor outstanding squadrons and members, listen to updates about any changes to the Air Force ROTC curriculum, and discuss the national service project for the following year. 

Arnies organizing Thanksgiving food for a food bank.

The national conferences are the best place to meet other cadets in a social environment. The only other place to meet cadets from all over the country is boot camp, but that is not exactly a relaxed place to chat and get to know others. The first conference I attended was held in San Diego. I met lots of people from all over, but the most ironic encounter was with a cadet who lived down the street from my parents in Seattle. We became friends and would get together whenever I went home to visit my parents. I didn't know anyone else in the area because my parents had moved there after I graduated from high school. He introduced me to several cadets at his detachment with whom I ended up attending boot camp. I was also invited to an Arnold Air Society camping trip that squadrons from all over Washington State and Oregon were having. This experience proved the kinship Arnies feel when they meet another. Simply by identifying myself as an Arnie meant I was automatically accepted into their group. 

Even though I am graduating, I will be an Arnie for life. AAS has been an important part of my Air Force ROTC experience. It has made me a better cadet and played a large part in developing my professionalism. I fully recommend it to any cadet who is dedicated to service.