Det 010 Cadet meets the governor

Detachment 10's own Cadet Fourth Class Olivia Parker met with Alabama state Governor Kay Ivey on 2 February 2023. As 2023 Miss Indian Alabama, Cadet Parker represented her own clan and nine other tribes indigenous to Alabama and received a proclamation from the Governor herself. 

Congratulations to Cadet Parker on this significant accomplishment!

NAME: Olivia Parker

HOMETOWN: Enterprise, AL

CLASS YEAR: 2026

MAJOR: Political Science

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN THE AIR FORCE: I am not completely sure yet! I’m trying to keep an open mind while also figuring out what interests me. Naturally, I am inclined to go the pilot route since I am from the Ft. Rucker area, but I am also looking into going to law school and becoming a JAG!

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: In high school, I was in the marching and symphonic bands and I loved it so much. Now in college, I’m a member of the UA Honors College, I’m in AFROTC and I am also the 2023 Miss Indian Alabama.

SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT ME: I have many interests, but if i had to choose, I would say that my love for music has to be at the top. I am a HUGE music nerd in every capacity you could imagine. I was in the band at my school for about eight years and in my time there I fell in love with all things musical. I was the flute/woodwind section leader for many years and I eventually became band captain. My interest just grew from there. I’ve composed a few of my own pieces and I still perform to this day when I can (My talent for the Miss Indian Alabama competition was playing my flute)!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT OUR DETACHMENT: My favorite thing about Det 010 is the community that it has created. I have truly made some of my closest relationships since being a part of AFROTC. The love and genuine support from cadet to cadet is astounding, and I am so thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to participate in such a unique and enriching program.

WHAT’S THE HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING IN AFROTC: The most difficult thing about AFROTC to me is being to balance my personal life and ROTC itself. I have had to develop even more time management skills than I already had because this program keeps me extremely busy. The amount of tasks we’re given or the number of things we have to memorize can be daunting, but with a positive attitude and good work ethic, it can be done!

HOW DO YOU RECOMMEND OTHERS PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR PROGRAM: My best advice would be to research and be informed. Unfortunately, my high school didn’t offer a JROTC program and I don’t have any military background in my family, so I didn’t even know that ROTC existed until I was accepted to Alabama. I had NO idea what I was getting myself into, however, I’ve been able to keep up through lots of hard work and effort. It’s been harder for me than some of my friends in the program but they have been essential to my success thus far.