Cadets at Virginia Tech recently received the spotlight from their school magazine, The Corps Review.  The Virginia Tech AUP Detachment was founded in 2010.  Since then it has grown to approximately 7 members.  A couple of the graduates have already joined the Coast Guard Reserves, and one is even deployed to the Middle East.  A service spirit definitely shows with this unit!  One of the cadets, SN Justin Hunts (USCGR), attended the Coast Guard's Innovation Expo as a presenter with the AUP team.  SN Hunts hopes to not be the last of his shipmates to go Reserve or active duty with the Coast Guard.

One of the detachment's proudest moments was coordinating with a Coast Guard helicopter crew to arrange a flyover prior to a Virginia Tech football game.  The cadets were able to ask questions of the crew, and even take a flight with them. This was a truly unique experience that not many college students get to enjoy.  One cadet, Thomas Dunlap, found the flight to be a prime experience, and wished that every individual who was interested in the Coast Guard could find this type of experience.

Photo: Justin Hunts (VT '12 second from right) attended the Coast Guard Innovation Expo with (L to R) John DeCastra (Auburn '12), Victor Bruno (Cal State Fullerton '11), and Kip Francis of the Stevens Institute of Technology.

These types of experiences are not just once-in-a-lifetime experiences with students involved in the Auxiliary University Programs.  Exciting experiences happen regularly for most students.  No other program has the potential to bring students as close to the front-lines of homeland security and maritime service as AUP at Virginia Tech and other schools.  Students stand side by side with their active duty counterparts serving the country.  As one can see from the Virginia Tech article, students find a sense of service and duty to country, something that a country can never attain enough of.  

To read the entire article about the Virginia Tech cadets see the file attached to this page.