January 23, 2007 – Former EAA Young Eagle Matthew A. Shelly is now a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. His father, Mark Shelly, who is a private pilot, introduced Matthew to aviation. Matthew received his Young Eagle flight in 1996, at age 13, with family friend Bill Horton, who owned a Cessna 170A. His father and younger brother both went along for the ride and Matthew still keeps in contact with Horton.
Shelly’s interest in military aviation was first sparked during his time in Air Force Junior ROTC. Shelly took AFJROTC as a class at his local high school that he attended part time while being home-schooled.
During Shelly’s senior year in high school, at age 17, he received his private pilot's certificate. His family is also part of the Boeing Employees Flying Club where he accomplished his primary training.
After high school Shelly attended Kansas State University at Salina, in Salina, Kan., on an AFROTC scholarship. After four years, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Airway Science in May 2005. Through his training at Kansas State, he earned his instrument and multi-engine ratings as well as his commercial and Flight Instructor certificates He was commissioned in the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant.
After graduation, he attended Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (JSUPT) at Vance AFB, Okla. Shelly started JSUPT in December of 2005, flying the Raytheon T-6 Texan II. In June of 2006, he was selected for the fighter/bomber track and switched to flying the T-38C. On Dec. 1, 2006, Shelly was assigned the A-10 as his Major Weapons System (MWS), receiving his Air Force wings and graduated from JSUPT two weeks later on Dec 15.
“The Air Force has been a great experience for me. The flying is a blast and training that I have received is second to none,” Shelly said.
Not only is his Air Force life exciting, but his personal life as well. Matthew also got married on Sept. 2, 2006!
Shelly will be stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., where he will be transitioning to A-10 aircraft. Davis Monthan AFB is located in Tucson, Ariz., and is the primary location for A-10 Replacement Training Unit (RTU). Before attending RTU he must complete Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals (IFF) which is a two month course that he will attend in March at Randolph AFB, Texas.
Shelly signed a 10-year commitment to the Air Force, as every Active Duty student has to before attending JSUPT saying, “So I will definitely be flying for the Air Force. Where I am and what I am doing is really up to the Air Force though. I do plan on making [it] a career.”
He is currently attending Combat Survival Training and will return to active duty on Feb. 2, 2007.
|
|
Matthew A. Shelly, 2d Lt. USAF, with a T-38C.
For More Information
Air Force Junior ROTC
Boeing Employees Flying Club
Kansas State University at Salina
Vance AFB, Okla.
Raytheon T-6 Texan II
T-38C
A-10
Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
Randolph AFB, Texas
|
Become a Volunteer | Volunteer Recognition | Program News | Resources | World's Largest Logbook
EMAIL
STORY
PRINTER
FRIENDLY
Privacy Policy 