MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. –
In a historic milestone, Master Sgt. Cynthia Webster, a 908th Aeromedical Staging Squadron medic, became the Air Force’s first reservist to serve as an Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps instructor while maintaining her drill status. Webster, who dedicated 13 years to the Air Force, began her new role as an aerospace science instructor at Mae Jemison High School in Huntsville, Alabama, in July.
In 2024, an exciting new opportunity opened up for reservists, guardsmen and some retired veterans. Thanks to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023, the Department of Defense unveiled new pay scales for instructors, making the role of Junior ROTC instructor accessible to a wider range of dedicated military members. This change is a milestone and provides a rewarding path for those seeking to inspire the next generation of leaders.
Webster first became aware of Junior ROTC when one of its former commanders became an instructor after retiring. The role seemed to appeal to Webster. “Maybe I can share my passion for the military with younger generations – and show through my personal belief that military service is a selfless service, a calling, and not just a business model where you trade your time, work and talent for things like tuition money.”
Another important factor for Webster was the opportunity to work in the same location as her husband. With nearly 830 programs nationwide and over 200 current openings, the Air Force Junior ROTC greatly expands the location options for members of the reserve component.
When asked what made her decide, she replied, “It was actually the opportunity to work with the children. As a firefighter, I was involved in public outreach programs and was able to interact with the public. What I enjoyed most about working with the fire department was interacting with the children, talking to them about my job and my career in the fire service or other public services, and getting them to maybe find a way out of bad situations in their homes or communities.”
She hopes more members of the Air Force Reserve consider this new opportunity. “I think it’s a win-win for everyone involved. Serving as a JROTC instructor while serving in the Reserve helps senior noncommissioned officers get along with the junior members of their units. This will benefit the integration and fit of newly assigned personnel and allow unit leaders to build deeper and more effective relationships with their workforce. For currently serving Reservists like myself, it’s a win-win because it expands the spectrum of opportunities available in this field.”
Webster’s passion for the Air Force is deeply rooted in her family history. Her father served in the Air Force for four years and later worked for the Department of Defense, which took the family to various deployment locations, including Montgomery, Alabama, Hawaii and Munich, Germany. It was during her time in Munich, watching Red Cross helicopters, that she first envisioned saving lives from the air herself.
“One of my clearest childhood memories is of the Red Cross helicopters flying over the base in Munich. I always imagined myself up there saving lives,” Webster said. “We had a network overseas, AFN (Armed Forces Network). ‘M*A*S*H’ was my favorite TV show.” For those unfamiliar with the series, “M*A*S*H” offered an often comedic perspective on the military’s medical mission during the Korean War, and featured helicopters transporting wounded soldiers in the opening credits.
Her path to becoming an aeromedical evacuation technician was inspired by a pivotal moment with former Chief Master Sgt. Patrick Wier of the 908th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. “He told me that air evacuation technicians and nurses had converted the aircraft into a hospital in the sky so the 908th could bring our injured brothers and sisters home,” she recalls. That experience solidified her calling in the Air Force.
Over the past decade, Webster has served in a variety of roles, including as an Aeromedical Evacuation Technician with the 908th AES. She also had the opportunity to serve on active duty for more than two years as the noncommissioned officer in charge of flight operations medicine and combat fighter clinics for the 42nd Medical Group. “I became responsible for setting up the COVID clinic, managing its daily operations, training other medical staff to administer the tests and ensuring all Maxwell personnel had access to care.”
“One of my fondest memories is when we brought six wounded soldiers back from a forward deployed location. The mission was, I think, typical of some others we had done, but I always felt like I was serving a purpose. I was living the dream of saving lives, just like the helicopters in ‘M*A*S*H’ back in Munich when I was a kid,” Webster said.
Now, as Webster begins her role in the Air Force Junior ROTC program, she brings a wealth of experience and commitment. All Air Force Junior ROTC units are required to have two full-time instructors, typically an officer and an enlisted enlisted enlisted cadet. Retired Col. Keith Wilson is the lead instructor of aerospace science at Mae Jemison High School. As an instructor team, they have set several goals for the coming year. “Col. Wilson and I want to grow the program to reach its potential. All JROTC programs are ultimately meant to be student-led. Col. Wilson and I are just meant to facilitate that. The JROTC training program provides the students with the material to do the program well, but over time, it is the students who must take the lead and make it great.”
Webster has high standards for her program. Her main goal is to help students “develop a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves. One of those essential tools for success is the belief that they can be part of something bigger. That’s what I want to instill in every student upon completion of the program.”
She has been in office for just over a week and notes, “All children give me a sense of purpose. But the lost children, the ones who are searching for something beyond what they are doing right now – those are the ones who make me feel like I am doing something for a purpose greater than myself.”
In her new role as Junior ROTC instructor, Webster aims to inspire the next generation of Air Force leaders while continuing her service as a reservist. Her unique position highlights the evolving opportunities within the Air Force Reserve and the importance of leadership and commitment in shaping the nation’s future. “I want to help give cadets a head start in life and give them the tools they need to succeed,” she said.
