A Color Guard presentation and a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 18 will celebrate the creation of the new Houston Corps of Cadets – the official association of Air Force, Army and Navy/Marine ROTC programs in the Houston metro area. Fittingly, the date also marks an historic change in American military might with the formation of the U.S. Air Force on Sept. 18, 1947.

The benefits of creating the Houston Corps of Cadets include marketing and recruitment opportunities for ROTC and participating universities/colleges, economies of scale and synergy for ROTC programs, increased interaction with the 28 Air Force Junior ROTC, 40 Army JROTC and 27 Navy JROTC high school programs in the Houston area, increased availability of leadership and character education programs to civilian students and enhanced civic pride. With about 300 cadets and midshipman, the Houston Corps of Cadets already is as large as Louisiana State University’s Corps of Cadets and hopes to expand to the size of Texas A&M University’s Corps within the next five to seven years.

Ceremonies will begin at 6:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Garrison Gymnasium with the second annual “Jog with the Troops to Support the Troops” event. The public is invited to join ROTC cadets in a three-mile formation jog around the UH campus. Participation is free, but donations will be accepted and go toward helping homeless veterans who are living at DeGeorge at Union Station Veteran’s Home and injured veterans recovering at the Michel E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

“We’d like to extend an invitation to the public, as well as active duty military, reservists, national guard and veterans to run with us to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Air Force and show gratitude for all veterans who have fought for the freedoms we have long enjoyed,” said Col. Phil Bossert, commander of UH’s Air Force ROTC program.

At 11:30 a.m. in the Rockwell Pavilion at the M.D. Anderson Library, the media is invited to attend a luncheon celebrating the Air Force’s 60th anniversary, as well as a ceremonial ribbon cutting marking the creation of the Houston Corps of Cadets – the first corps named after a major American city, according to Bossert.

Attending the ceremonies will be representatives from all the major colleges and universities in Houston, Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine cadets and staff. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be officiated by Bossert, Army Lt. Col. Anthony Landry, Navy Capt. Dave Murray and Marine Lt. Col. Ben W. Copeland. .

At 3:30 p.m., Sept. 19, Air Force ROTC cadets will deliver USAF 60th anniversary cakes to the DeGeorge at Union Station Veteran’s Home (1418 Preston St., Houston, 713-224-1418) and the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center (2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, 713-794-7100).

WHAT:	Jog with the Troops to Support the Troops 5K run (Sept. 18) U.S. Air Force 60th anniversary luncheon and Houston Corps of Cadets Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony (Sept. 18) U.S. Air Force 60th anniversary cakes delivered to veterans (Sept. 19)
WHEN:	Tuesday, Sept. 18 and Wednesday, Sept. 19
WHERE:	Luncheon: 114 University Libraries Rockwell Pavilion

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