Talking Guard

  • Published
  • 120th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
GREAT FALLS, Mont. --  Two Montana Air National Guard officers visited two classes of the Montana State University Air Force Reserves Officers’ Training Corps Detachment 450 cadets April 24 at Montana State University, Bozeman campus ROTC classroom.
Lt. Col. Rusty Vaira, 219th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer, or RED HORSE Squadron commander, and Lt. Col Larry Gardner, 120th Airlift Wing Operations Support Squadron commander, flip through albums at the Air Force Reserves Officers’ Training Corps detachment 450 Montana State University, Bozeman April 24, 2017 in the ROTC classroom. Vaira, a graduate of Det. 450 was asked to speak to the cadets on his career path and had a chance to reminice about his beginnings in the detachment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lindsey Soulsby)

Lt. Col. Rusty Vaira, 219th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer, or RED HORSE Squadron commander, and Lt. Col Larry Gardner, 120th Airlift Wing Operations Support Squadron commander, flip through albums at the Air Force Reserves Officers’ Training Corps detachment 450 Montana State University, Bozeman April 24, 2017 in the ROTC classroom. Vaira, a graduate of Det. 450 was asked to speak to the cadets on his career path and had a chance to reminice about his beginnings in the detachment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Lindsey Soulsby)
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Lt. Col. Rusty Vaira, 219th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer, or RED HORSE, Squadron commander, and Lt. Col. Larry Gardner, 120th Airlift Wing Operations Support Squadron commander, shared their career pathways with ROTC cadets.

“It was a great experience to head back down to Montana State University and visit the ROTC detachment I graduated from almost 22 years ago,” Vaira said. “To reminisce with the pictures and to talk to some of the new cadets.” media:2:left:small]

Vaira and Gardner shared their career progression with the cadets.

“We got to talk with some people from the Montana Air National Guard and get insight into their jobs,” said Cadet Luke Wilkins.

“I think most people in the detachment have no idea about Air National Guard,” said Wilkins. "I think it’s great for us to get other opportunities besides active duty.” media:3:right:small]

While on location, Vaira also administered the oath of enlistment to Senior Airman Kaylee V. Sarvis, a transfer from the Air Force Reserve and daughter of AFROTC Det. 450 MSU Recruiting Flight Commander, Maj. John M. Sarvis, to the MTANG.