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Air Force Officer Training School Instructor Tells Trek from CAP Cadet
A U.S. Air Force Officer Training School instructor shared her journey from Civil Air Patrol cadet to Air Force captain during a recent visit to the National Emergency Services Academy — Southeast in central Alabama.
Air Force Capt. Cassie Warren joined CAP as a cadet in the Texas Wing's Nighthawk Composite Squadron at age 16 — in her words, “a little old to start as a cadet.” Even with the late start, she eventually achieved the organization’s second-highest cadet honor, the Gen. Ira C. Eaker Award. She also participated in the International Air Cadet Exchange, visiting Canada, and in Texas Wing glider and flight academies.
At 21, Warren enlisted in the Air National Guard to help pay for college, which led to a bachelor’s degree in 
biochemistry — premed at Middle State Tennessee University. She served seven years as an Air National Guard medic.
Seeking newer and bigger challenges, she began Officer Training School in 2015 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Planning to operate MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Air Vehicles, she followed up with a year of remotely piloted aircraft training at Pueblo, Colorado; Randolph AFB, Texas; and Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, New York.
Even so, she ended up not qualifying — but “when one door closes,” Warren said, “you can stand there and let the world pass you by or open other doors with new challenges.”
She chose the latter path, with the Air Force retraining her to serve as a force support officer.
OTS instructor is one of her favorite jobs, Warren said, as it enables her to give back to others. She shared facts and figures about OTS, which produces 2,200 officers Air Force officers annually —more than ROTC and the Air Force Academy.
Graduates enter the Air Force from all components: active duty, Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard, she said. OTS is also responsible for commissioning U.S. Space Force officers.
The $78 million OTS complex at Maxwell consists of two academic buildings with auditoriums, four dormitories, a dining facility, physical conditioning center, parade field, running track, and sports fields.
OTS maintains an Air Expeditionary Force Garrison Training Site, Vigilant Warrior Remote Deployment Site, in Titus— a 200-acre field training facility, confidence course, and two expeditionary assault courses. CAP has used the Vigilant Warrior Remote Deployment Site to host NESA-SE since 2008.
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Maj. Adrian Carnes
Chief of Staff
National Emergency Services Academy-Southeast