Two students involved in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program at Glenwood Springs High School (GSHS)  traded the classroom for the cockpit this summer, embarking on an eight-week journey that culminated in each earning their Private Pilot’s Certification.

Incoming seniors Finn Long and Quinn McSwain took their passion for aviation to the skies, earning prestigious scholarships to attend the Air Force JROTC Flight Academy.

Launched in 2018, the academy was created to inspire high school students to pursue careers in aviation. The program has grown significantly, with more than 300 cadets attending 24 universities across the nation in 2023. The program also aims to increase diversity in the aviation industry, which remains one of the least diverse fields in the country, according to the flight academy’s website.

Both students made the most of their time, with Long attending Fairmont State University in West Virginia and McSwain heading to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona.

Long joined JROTC in his junior year, specifically with the flight academy in mind. 

“I was interested in the program and I wanted to apply for that,” Long said. “At first, I was just joining for a chance to be a part of the flight academy, but overall, I think I’ve felt more at home than I thought I would during my time with the program.” 

Long’s journey to the Flight Academy wasn’t straightforward. He was initially selected as an alternate and had to wait until the last minute to find out if he’d be able to attend.

“One afternoon, I got a call from the headquarters, and they said, ‘Hey, we have a spot open. Do you want it?'” Long said. 

Long had just one hour to decide and needed to be on a plane in 28 hours. Once at Fairmont State University, Long had to quickly catch up to his fellow cadets, who had already started their training two weeks prior.

“I was flying planes pretty much twice a day for the first week,” he said. The program was intense, but by the end, Long had clocked 45 hours of flight time and earned his Private Pilot’s Certification.

“It was pretty life-changing, to be honest. I think it’s given me the jump start that I wanted in my career,” Long said.

Glenwood Springs High JROTC Supervisor Gregory Pfieffer recognized Long’s modesty, which he said helped Long succeed during his shortened time at the eight week academy.

“Last year was actually Finn’s first year in the program and he jumped fully in and started taking formal leadership roles,” Pfieffer said. “He has a very strong passion for flight, so he knew this was something that he wanted to do and explore, and he is a very humble leader who puts others before himself. He is not afraid to just sit back and learn before jumping in and leading.”

Pfieffer afforded similar compliments to McSwain’s growth during his tenure in the JROTC program.

“I’ve obviously seen Quinn progress through the ranks and various leadership positions, and really seen him grow as a leader, which is a big part of why he got chosen,” Pfieffer said. “I would say he is very much a patriot. He really wants to serve his country after he graduates. So putting service before self is definitely a strong leadership quality that he shows.”

McSwain, who has been part of the JROTC program since his freshman year, was also selected for the Flight Academy. He attended Embry-Riddle in Prescott, Arizona, one of the most highly recognized flight schools in the world. 

“Flight Academy was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I really didn’t know what to expect,” McSwain said.

The application process was rigorous, with only about 150 cadets selected from 2,000 applicants. McSwain’s leadership role as squadron commander at GSHS helped him stand out. In his role, McSwain is the highest-ranking cadet within the school’s squadron, responsible for leading and managing the entire unit.

“It’s a very student-based program, so we do everything as much on our own as we can,” McSwain said. He oversees all the cadets and coordinates their activities with guidance from Pfeiffer.

Despite having little flight experience, McSwain quickly adapted to the demands of the program. 

“It was an amazing first experience for sure and another opportunity for me to expand my career path into something I didn’t know I might want to do,” McSwain said.

With both cadets now looking to the future,Long said he is contemplating a career in aviation, potentially through the military or a university program. 

“I’m definitely going to pursue aviation as a career after this,” Long said. 

McSwain, on the other hand, is weighing his options between pursuing law and a potential career in the Air Force. 

“This opened the opportunity to look into becoming a pilot,” McSwain said. “I would 100% do it again even if I don’t decide to go down the pilot route. It’s giving me a shoe in the door for the Air Force Academy, ROTC scholarships and many other amazing things that I can have happen based on my experience.”