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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 8, 1984)
Students take free flight for fun and future The invitations issued through advertisements to fly with the military often receive little response. However, an of fer for a free flight with a fighter pilot enticed 37 University students to Mahlon Sweet Field, to check out the Marines’ aviation orientation program on Oct. 25 and 26, and another crowd of University men will most likely reserve spots when the pilot returns this spring. The offer wasn’t open to female students because they aren’t allowed to join the avia tion program. “The Department of Defense doesn’t allow women in combat positions, and all Marine avia tion positions are combat posi tions. So it’s not that we don’t want them, we just aren’t allow ed to hire them,” says Capt. B.J. Toynbee, the chief selection of ficer for the Marines in Eugene. The men who participated flew with Capt. Mike Healy, who is stationed at the 12th Marine Corps district in Treasure Island, Calif. Healy took students up in pairs, in a Mooney 231, a small six cylinder aircraft. He discussed operation of the aircraft, explained the uses of the instruments, and then let each of the participants take over at the wheel. Healy demonstrated various acrobatics, including simulated tactics that would be used in bombing. “We get some (participants) who don’t qualify. They’re either out of shape physically, or they just don’t have the right attitude. But we promised to give everyone a flight, and that’s what we’ll do.” Healy says, realizing that some who take the flight aren't sincere about wanting to join the Marines. junior Nick Beres was one student who was simply out for a good time. “I thought it would be neat to go up and do some acrobatics,” Beres says. “1 just thought it would be fun.” However, Beres was one of many students sent away because the time ran out and bad weather set in, Toynbee says. But Healy will return with the same program in the spring, and those who missed out will have another chance for the free flight. Those who did go up for the 40-minute flight gave mixed reviews. “The flying was fun, but when he started to show how you dive bomb, that really got me,” says Mitch McCoy, a senior telecommunications and film major. “I’m really glad I went because now I know I don’t want to join the military,” he says. McCoy took the Marines up on their flight offer because he is interested in aviation, and as a senior, he’s looking for post graduation options. “I loved the flight, but it real ly made me realize that Marines are in the business of killing, and I just don’t want to learn how to kill.” On the other hand, freshman Steve Bodine was impressed with the flight and the program. “I just went to check out my options,” says Bodine. “The flight was a good experience, and they weren’t pushy about signing me up for the program.” Mealy estimates that the cost of the flight orientation program runs about $50,000 a year to operate the aircraft, pay for fuel, and cover his expenses. Healy travels to 10 states, recruiting and giving flights to potential aviators. “It’s cost effective because we get a chance to see what the guys are like. We find out im mediately if they don’t like fly ing or if they’re going to be ill,” Healy says. The free flight was offered to expose male students to the platoon-leaders class, an of ficers training program for men and women. Aviation is just one avenue that men can pursue in the program and is one option women are excluded from because it is a combat position. “We don’t require military science classes, hair cuts or any obligation to join,” Toynbee says. “We do require the students to attend a pizza party once a month that serves as an information base.” Our students can withdraw from the program any time,” Toynbee says. “They don’t even make a decision on whether they want to join until they graduate,” unlike the ROTC program, a college train ing program offered by the U.S. Army. All students in the program get $100 a month, as well as $2,200 for attending a 10-week officers training school in the summer. Once they become seniors, participants get 25 hours of flying time worth $1,400. Stories by Diana Elliott You'll get there faster with a Resume from ODE Graphic Services! IBM WORD PROCESSOR RENTAL 860 E. 13th OPEN 7 DAYS 344-7894 Oregon Daily Emerald Express yourself to the Ducks Games only 250 While all the cars are stuck in traffic you'll be whizzing by in your own express lane when you take the Duck Express—special buses tt&ft&e you dirpct!¥fa,$Qjz&£.$tatffirm arxt back after the game for just2Weach way. Just leave your car at any of the seven convenient locations: the Fairgrounds, the Eugene Downtown Mall, South Eugene High School, the River Road Transit Station, the Valley River Inn, the Springfield City Center Station or the Red Lion Inn. For great seats to the game that only cost a quarter, take it easy—take the Duck Express. Leave Fairgrounds: 11:30, 11:45, 12:00, 12:15, 12:30, 12:45 Leave Eugene Mall, Special Section: 11:35, 11:50, 12:05, 12:20, 12:35, 12:50 Leave South Eugene High School: 11:35, 11:50, 12:05, 12:20, 12:35, 12:50 Leave River Road Transit Station: 11:35, 11:50, 12:00, 12:10, 12:25, 12:35, 12:45 Leave Valley River Inn: 11:40, 11:55, 12:05, 12:15, 12:30, 12:40, 12:50 Leave Springfield City Center Station: 11:40, 11:55, 12:10, 12:40 Leave Red Lion: 11:30, 11:45, 12:00, 12:15, 12:30, 12:45