Around 2,000 cadets representing colleges across the nation applauded as Brigham Young University’s Bernard F. Fisher squadron won the Robert O. Thompson Heritage Award at the Arnold Air Society (AAS) annual conference. This award and recognition are the culmination of the many ways the cadets were motivated to serve as they learned about their squadron’s heritage.
The squadron first began learning more about their past while serving the BYU AFROTC Detachment 855 Alumni Chapter, a group that organizes student and alumni events, such as their homecoming reunion and the Veteran’s Day memorial devotional.
Squadron member and Air Force ROTC senior Anaiya Harris and the other cadets worked one-on-one with Det 855 alumni who frequently discussed both their active duty and AAS cadet experiences, learning more about the squadron’s history and potential. A native of Grand Junction, Colorado, Harris explains the alumni connections provide not only important resources but also inspiration: “They are a motivation because they’ve been through all of the program before.”
As the alumni helped the squadron reflect on their history, Harris believes the cadets gained a better understanding of what the ROTC experience means—especially when reflecting on their own squadron’s namesake: Colonel Bernard F. Fisher.
Cadets new to the squadron learned that Colonel Fisher earned a medal of honor for his valor by risking his life to rescue his wingman while serving in Vietnam. Colonel Fisher grew up in Clearfield, Utah, and earned his Air Force commission while attending school in the Beehive State. His local background combined with his courageous service make Colonel Fisher a local hero, says Harris. As the cadets reflected on his example, they took the opportunity to consider how they could grow in their own courage and character.
One way they sought to build character was through recognizing the service of another local hero Colonel Gail Halvorsen—the Candy Bomber. Working alongside the Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Education Foundation, the cadets assisted in fundraising for a new STEM education center where people can learn about aviation and celebrate the Candy Bomber’s legacy. The center, named in Colonel Halvorsen’s honor, will be built in Spanish Fork.
After working alongside the Det 855 Alumni Chapter, learning about their squadron’s namesake, and assisting the Halvorsen foundation, the squadron realized their service was applicable to a new AAS heritage award. So Harris applied, and the squadron anticipated news of a response as they attended the annual AAS conference in March 2024.
During the conference’s closing banquet (and right as Harris felt she had almost given up on the award being mentioned altogether), an AAS representative announced the Robert O. Thompson Heritage Award winners: the Bernard F. Fisher Squadron. Harris recalls their ecstatic disbelief after receiving the award in front of thousands. “Everyone was shocked,” she explains. “It’s what we had been working and hoping for.”
The award recognizes the invaluable lessons and motivation that the cadets gained through their service experiences, explains Harris. She believes the squadron has undoubtedly learned the value of appreciating its heritage—and live BYU AFROTC’s motto: pride in the past and faith in the future.
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Written by Nicholas Day