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Tuesday, Apr 15, 2025 1:01 PM

Fr: Aden Hoelscher

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Dear Longhorn Airmen Alumni and Friends,

 

It’s been a while since we last connected, and we hope this message finds you well. We are excited to reach out to you again with updates from within the wing, as well as opportunities to support the next generation of Longhorn Airmen.

 

Cadet Experiences and Opportunities:

The Longhorn Airmen continue to provide incredible experiences for cadets to develop leadership skills, grow professionally, and prepare for their future careers in the Air Force. Here are just a few of the highlights:

 

• NDSS: This year Detachment 825 hosted the 2025 National Defense in Space Summit with many of our cadets playing key roles in organizing, leading, and participating. The event had many notable speakers including Major General Stephan G. Purdy (Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration), Brigadier General Christopher Amrhein (one of our many distinguished Det. 825 Alumni), and Jason Kim (CEO Firefly Aerospace). Cadets from across the country came to learn more about the multi-disciplinary and rapidly changing field of space and its role in the defense and protection of space-based capabilities.
   

• NASA: Cadets had the opportunity to tour the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, where they learned about Air and Space Force operations in collaboration with NASA. They observed an astronaut conducting a practice mission at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, tested their skills in a lunar landing simulator, and visited the Mission Control Center.

 

• BOTB: Texas Games, known as “Battle of the Bomb,” is an annual sports competition among AFROTC detachments across the state, designed to foster camaraderie, teamwork, and esprit de corps. This year, the University of North Texas hosted the event, and Detachment 825 cadets rose to the challenge, taking home the bomb once again. They secured their third consecutive victory, notably defeating the University of Oklahoma, which made a guest appearance and placed second in the competition.
   

• Community Engagement: Cadets continue to show support to our local community both through AFROTC and in their own dimensions. Det. 825 has achieved more than 500+ community service hours, showing our cadets’ dedication to making a positive impact and their drive to become high-impact officers in our nation's Air and Space Forces.
   

The Longhorn Airmen Endowment Fund:

We are thrilled to announce the creation of the Longhorn Airmen Endowment Fund, a dedicated fund aimed at supporting future generations of cadets through scholarships by initially raising $25,000 to establish an enduring endowment. This fund will provide vital financial support to those cadets who demonstrate excellence in leadership, academic performance, and a commitment to serving their country.

In order to make this vision a reality, we have launched a GoFundMe campaign to accept donations. Contributions to this fund will not only ensure that we continue to nurture the potential of future leaders but will also make a large impact on the current leaders we are developing. Unfortunately as of right now, we are not a registered 501(c)(3) organization, so donations can’t be reported for tax benefits. However, we do have it on our radar and are currently examining options to achieve that status. If you would like to speak with a University Development Officer about how to donate in a tax-advantaged way or about giving a larger amount to this endowment, we would be happy to connect you. We will continue to keep the entire alumni network updated on the progress of this fundraising effort and thank you in advance for your generous support!

 

Click Here to Donate!

 

Thank You for Your Continued Support:

We sincerely appreciate your continued support of Longhorn Airmen. Your dedication to our mission has been instrumental in the success of our cadets, and we look forward to seeing how our alumni continue to inspire the next generation. If you no longer wish to receive updates, please reply to this email, and we will promptly remove you from our list. Likewise, if you know someone who would like to receive our newsletter and other updates, please send us their name and email.

 

Thank you once again for all you’ve done and continue to do for Longhorn Airmen!

 

 

Very Respectfully,

 

//SIGNED//

ADEN M. HOELSCHER, C/1st Lt, AFROTC

Alumni Outreach/Fundraising Officer

825th Cadet Wing, University of Texas

573.533.0860​​