Throughout his career, Lieutenant Colonel Travis Sheets has had a passion for teaching and mentoring. Now, as the new Commander of Air Force ROTC Detachment 535 at Syracuse, he’s bringing that same passion to his role and helping to develop the leaders of tomorrow’s Air Force.
News
Army National Guard Member, Chindedu Nwankwoala, Builds Experience through Defense Comptrollership Program
If money makes the world go around, then military finance officers are a vital link connecting our nation’s military and its commitment to the U.S. taxpayer. For Major Chinedu Nwankwoala, a member of the National Guard, a career in finance was a gateway to explore a much larger world—even larger than either of the continents he grew up on.
University’s ROTC Cadets Bring the Fight to COVID-19
“We needed a lot of help and support,” says Pruthvi Kilaru, program manager in the Department of Public Health in the Falk College. Volunteers were needed to swab and log samples at the stadium on a mass scale. The Public Health Team also needed assistance in the lab to pool samples before they were sent to the lab.
The University’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) answered the call.
Hometown Hero: Felicia Showers
Syracuse University Army ROTC Cadet and New York Army National Guard Sergeant, Felicia Showers, hails from Waterloo, New York. She enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2014 as Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst and served in the 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion.
Veteran’s Writing Award Reading and Book Talk Announced
Syracuse University Libraries, Syracuse University Press and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) will host a virtual Veteran’s Writing Award Reading and Book Talk on Nov. 12, 2020 from 4 to 5 p.m. ET, featuring 2019 award winner Dewaine Farria, author of “Revolutions of All Colors.” Those interested should register in advance.
The event lineup will include:
- Tobias Wolff, award-winning novelist, short story writer, Vietnam veteran and former Syracuse University faculty member who will share his impressions of “Revolutions of All Colors” and why he selected it to win the inaugural award.
- Dewaine Farria, winner of the Veterans Writing Award, who holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and then the United Nations Department of Safety and Security.
- Kicia Sears, IVMF program evaluation manager, and Kyle Bass, Syracuse Stage associate artistic director and assistant professor of theater at Colgate University both members of the Veteran’s Writing Award Advisory Board.
Register in advance to attend this event. For more information, visit the Veteran’s Writing Award.
Fall 2020 Military-Connected Student Scholarships
The Syracuse University Office of Veterans and Military Affairs is currently accepting applications for multiple military-connected student scholarships.
Hometown Hero: Kirsten Brandes
Staff Sergeant Kirsten Brandes enlisted in the Air Force in January of 2015. During her nearly six years of service as a Broadcast Journalist, she has served at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; Incirlik Air Base, Turkey; and Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Students and Staff Volunteer in Biannual Veterans Affinity Group Cemetery Cleanup
The veteran section of Oakwood Cemetery was cleared of overgrown grass and debris on Oct. 3 by Syracuse University’s Veterans Affinity Group. The 19 socially distanced volunteers cleared the section’s 70 grave markers.
Learn More about Veteran Career Services from Assistant Director, Jennifer Pluta
Jennifer Pluta, Syracuse University Assistant Director of Veteran Career Services, joined us on this month’s “What’s Brewin'” to highlight why student veterans should take advantage of veteran career services at Syracuse University.
Syracuse University Tillman Scholar and Air Force Veteran, Laura Buys, honored as Hometown Hero vs. Georgia Tech
United States Air Force veteran Laura Buys of Saint Paul, Minnesota, enlisted in the Air Force and became an operations intelligence analyst in 2012. In 2014, she deployed to Qatar in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve. She later joined the prestigious Cobra Ball in Alaska and Japan while supporting international treaty verification.