United States Air Force Academy

Go to home page

Academy NCO gets ready for officer training school

(U.S. Air Force photos/Trang Le)

By Ray Bowden, Dec. 13, 2019

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — A curriculum developer at the Air Force Academy is one of a few enlisted Airmen this year to be selected to attend officer training school.

“I told myself not to ‘ugly cry,’” said Tech. Sgt. Samantha Van Cleave about her emotional state when Brig. Gen. Michele Edmondson, the Academy’s commandant, told her of her selection in November in front of her coworkers. “I did work very hard for this, but I’m incredibly honored.”

Van Cleave is from Mansfied, Arkansas. She lists education as a passion and has earned bachelors and master’s degrees.

“We’re all getting smarter and our adversaries are getting smarter, so it’s really central that all Airmen take advantage of any training and education opportunities,” she said.

Van Cleave will put her doctorate studies on hold and bypass her selection for promotion to master sergeant to attend OTS.

“As an enlisted person, I’ve always been all about my people and I want to continue that as an officer,” she said.

Maj. Tyler Warren is Van Cleave’s supervisor and a Marine. He earned a commission after serving as an enlisted Marine.

“Samantha has worked extremely hard,” he said. “I recognized her strong potential for commissioned service almost immediately and I’m very happy to see her on that path. She’ll be an excellent officer.”

Van Cleave’s commission will come through the Air Force’s Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program, which allows a select number of enlisted Airmen to apply to earn a commission. They can pursue their degree while on active duty or apply for direct commissioning if they’ve already earned a bachelors.

Van Cleave said she expects to leave the Academy for OTS in January or February.

Tech Sgt Samantha Van Cleave