While lots of teenagers get excited over attaining a driver’s license, it is typically a smaller crowd that shoots for a private pilot license (PPL).
However, that is exactly what Philip Simmons High eleventh grader Brian Stambaugh hopes to achieve this year after scoring a scholarship through HQ AFJROTC to participate in the 2025 Flight Academy Program.
His spot in the program is a highly-coveted one; the scholarships are valued at roughly $25,000. Cadets are selected from recommendations from their AFJROTC instructors and completed applications.
Out of more than 700 students across the country who applied to participate in this rigorous eight-week summer program, Stambaugh is one out of nearly 200 applicants – and one out of 15 state applicants – who was accepted.
During his time in the program he will learn everything a pilot needs to know, from flight training to on-board emergencies. At the end of the program, he will get to take the PPL test and, if he passes, he will be awarded his license – and he will be just one step closer to pursing his dream of joining the U.S. Air Force.
Stambaugh found out in the fall that he was accepted into the program; he and his fellow cadets were surprised with the news by his AFJROTC teachers and school administrators. Needless to say, he is pretty excited.
“My heart rate was going a million miles an hour – I was speechless,” he said. “I could not be more grateful.”
Stambaugh joined his school’s AFJROTC program because of his interest to go into the U.S. Air Force. He admittedly did not know a whole lot about AFJROTC when he signed up, but he quickly learned the many opportunities it offered. Since joining, he has participated in Color Guard, Flight Club and the school’s Raider Team.
“Most importantly, I was able to develop leadership skills and go outside my comfort zone,” he said.
This year he has a leadership role as the Vice Corps Commander, which has a hand in helping cadets in the lower grade levels be set up for success.
In 2023, Stambaugh was part of a team of four cadets who captured the simulated flight state title at the inaugural Aviation Competition – “AviCom” – event held at Patriots Point. At the time, it was the first team competition the program had ever entered in. Following that, Stambaugh participated in the Cadet Leadership Course at The Citadel, a weeklong course in which AFJROTC cadets learn leadership skills.
Stambaugh has wanted to be a pilot since he was a child and credits Lt Col Christopher Ott, a former Philip Simmons High AFJROTC instructor who also used to be a C-17 pilot, for further motivating Stambaugh to pursue his pilot license. Stambaugh also learned about the Flight Academy Program through Ott.
“The fact that I’d be a pilot in high school really helps when I go on to apply for the Air Force Academy and other universities as well,” he said.
Stambaugh began his application to the program in September. A big aspect of the application was taking an Airman’s Qualification Test, which covers all of what a student pilot should know, and submitted scores for a physical training test. He also had to write an essay on why he wanted to join the academy and submit a recommendation letter from his AFJROTC instructor, Chief Michelle Siau.
As an instructor, Siau said if her students are interested in a ROTC or Academy scholarship, she encourages them to try out for track and cross country for two reasons – one being students need a varsity letter, and also because running helps with their physical fitness scores. In addition to being a highly active AFRJOTC student, Stambaugh has participated on Philp Simmons High’s cross country team for three years now and has achieved two state championships.
“He is an amazing mentor, leader, communicator, and a great student in all his classes,” Siau said. “I have truly enjoyed seeing him grow into the amazing young man he is.”
Those selected for the Flight Academy Program will be assigned to a college, which has gone through a process with the U.S. Air Force, and will attend the college for the duration of the eight weeks. Stambaugh said the program is held at about 30 schools around the country; he does not yet know which one he is heading toward yet.
The scholarship covers transportation, room and board, academics and the flight hours required to earn a private pilot certificate. This certificate allows pilots to carry passengers in and out of all civil airports, fly at night, in controlled airspaces and in the category of aircraft for which they are certified, typically small single-engine aircraft.
It will not be an individual experience; Stambaugh will work alongside other cadets as a team as well.
“It will be very rewarding,” he said.
At the end of the program, in addition to potentially earning a PPL, students who pass the test also receive a leather flight jacket and a U.S. Air Force flight suit to wear. An article from the Air Force websites states to date, 1,059 AFJROTC cadets have earned their private pilot certificates through this program, including several teens who could legally fly before they received their driver’s licenses.
Stambaugh credits the AFJROTC program at Philip Simmons High for supporting him in his career endeavors. His main focus is to go into the U.S. Air Force after high school, but he also plans to apply to multiple universities.
“They (my teachers) have helped me grow outside my comfort zone,” he said. “I was very quiet when I first entered high school as a freshman. AFJROTC is a lot like a family and we work together as a team.”
Stambaugh said that support, as well as his heavy involvement in AFJROTC inside and outside of school, have really gotten him to where he is now as the Vice Corps Commander.
“All those factors helped me become who I am today,” he said.
His parents are James and Brittney Stambaugh. His younger brother, Jack, is also involved in AFJROTC.