Four years ago, Michael Baldi and Caley Cyphers graduated from Mount Shasta High School; Michael serving as salutatorian, and Caley as one of the valedictorians. Today both have completed training in the United States Military, to begin their careers as Commissioned Second Lieutenants.
Michael Baldi was recently accepted into the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he is training to become a medi-vac pilot. Caley Cyphers graduated in May from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, and is currently serving as a Contracting Specialist at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, Arizona. Both have achieved much during their four years away from home, and both say they are proud to serve their country.
Army Second Lieutenant
Michael Baldi
After high school graduation in 2004, Michael received scholarship offers from several schools, including the University of Hawaii, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Oregon through the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer’s Training Corps) program. He chose to attend the University of Portland, where he has family.
ROTC scholarships offer students the opportunity to earn their college degrees while concurrently training to be an Army officer. Michael explained that although he was a cadet while attending school, he still got to have a normal college experience. “ROTC really is the best of both worlds,” he said.
Michael’s father, Kim, a Mount Shasta CHP officer, explained his son’s busy schedule while at UP. “He had all the regular college courses, and was doing his officer’s training at the same time.”
During his junior year, Michael served as Cadet Commander in charge of his ROTC class, and as a senior he became the Cadet Commander for his entire unit. This honorable position came with many responsibilities. “It was a full time job,” Kim said. “He had to coordinate everyone’s training and assignments... it was just amazing to see a guy from a small town and a small school doing so well. He just kept excelling.”
In 2008 Michael graduated with a Bachelors of Art in History. On the basis of excellent grades, evidence of high moral character, military aptitude and leadership ability Michael was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate – which means he was ranked in the top 20 percent of Army ROTC graduates nationwide.
Upon graduation, Michael received his commission as an Army Second Lieutenant. “Right out of college, I had a great career with great pay,” he said.
After completing the ROTC program, Michael attended Commissioned Officer’s Training in the Medical Service Corps. in both Fort Sill, Okla. and Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
During this time, he applied to Army flight schools, and soon learned that he had been accepted to Fort Rucker. “I was ecstatic,” Michael said. “Being a pilot is going to be amazing... I’m training to fly Blackhawk Helicopters.”
Medi-vac,Michael explained, is like an ambulance in the air. His duty will be to evacuate wounded soldiers from dangerous situations.
Flight school is a long process, which usually takes about a year and a half to complete. For the next few weeks, Michael will be in SERE (Survival Escape Resistance and Evasion) training, where he will learn the skills necessary for his future career.
Air Force Second Lieutenant Caley Cyphers
During high school, Caley decided she’d like to join the military in order to gain the experiences and education they offer. She began the long process of applying to several military institutions, including West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy. Her senior year, she was notified of her acceptance to all three.
Caley’s mother, Judy, said that after visiting each campus, Caley decided on the Air Force Academy which is located near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Over 18,000 applicants had applied for admission to the academy that year. Of the 1327 cadets accepted, Caley was one of only 184 female graduates.
During her four years at the Academy, Caley had to learn how to prioritize her responsibilities, of which she had many, Judy said. In addition to her scholarly classes, Caley was immersed in military life. She had many squadron responsibilities, and was involved in several volunteer activities, including the USAFA Women’s Rugby Team club. Caley was on the Athletic Director’s List, the Dean’s List, and the Commandant’s List.
Caley earned her jump wings after successfully completing five solo free-fall jumps. “It was a nerve-wracking experience,” Caley said. “You’re in the plane, waiting your turn, and you’re all hyped up. Then, you’re standing in the door, waiting your turn, and you take a breath, and just let go.”
She also spent two summers in Japan, participating in the USAFA Language Emersion Program, while living with a Japanese family.
Caley graduated from the Academy in May of 2008 as a Commissioned Second Lieutenant. She received a Bachelors of Science in Political Science with an emphasis on International Politics, and a minor in Japanese.
President Bush gave a speech at Caley’s graduation, then personally greeted each new officer. Judy said “there were about a thousand graduates, and [President Bush] was just as upbeat for the first one as he was for the last. It was raining and wet, but he never complained... When the Thunderbirds flew over, it was overcast and we couldn’t see them until afterward... [the graduates] threw up their hats, and the boom came at the exact moment their hats were in the air. It was an exhilarating moment.”
Currently, Caley is stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where she is involved in contracting, which involves the acquisition of supplies for the Air Force. Caley plans to pursue her Master’s Degree in Business, and would like to eventually have enough international experience to become a Foreign Areas Officer. This would give her the opportunity to work with a host nation, preferably in East Asia, where her linguistic interests lie.
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Four years ago, Michael Baldi and Caley Cyphers graduated from Mount Shasta High School; Michael serving as salutatorian, and Caley as one of the valedictorians. Today both have completed training in the United States Military, to begin their careers as Commissioned Second Lieutenants.
Michael Baldi was recently accepted into the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he is training to become a medi-vac pilot. Caley Cyphers graduated in May from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, and is currently serving as a Contracting Specialist at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, Arizona. Both have achieved much during their four years away from home, and both say they are proud to serve their country.
Army Second Lieutenant
Michael Baldi
After high school graduation in 2004, Michael received scholarship offers from several schools, including the University of Hawaii, UC Santa Barbara, and the University of Oregon through the Army ROTC (Reserve Officer’s Training Corps) program. He chose to attend the University of Portland, where he has family.
ROTC scholarships offer students the opportunity to earn their college degrees while concurrently training to be an Army officer. Michael explained that although he was a cadet while attending school, he still got to have a normal college experience. “ROTC really is the best of both worlds,” he said.
Michael’s father, Kim, a Mount Shasta CHP officer, explained his son’s busy schedule while at UP. “He had all the regular college courses, and was doing his officer’s training at the same time.”
During his junior year, Michael served as Cadet Commander in charge of his ROTC class, and as a senior he became the Cadet Commander for his entire unit. This honorable position came with many responsibilities. “It was a full time job,” Kim said. “He had to coordinate everyone’s training and assignments... it was just amazing to see a guy from a small town and a small school doing so well. He just kept excelling.”
In 2008 Michael graduated with a Bachelors of Art in History. On the basis of excellent grades, evidence of high moral character, military aptitude and leadership ability Michael was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate – which means he was ranked in the top 20 percent of Army ROTC graduates nationwide.
Upon graduation, Michael received his commission as an Army Second Lieutenant. “Right out of college, I had a great career with great pay,” he said.
After completing the ROTC program, Michael attended Commissioned Officer’s Training in the Medical Service Corps. in both Fort Sill, Okla. and Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
During this time, he applied to Army flight schools, and soon learned that he had been accepted to Fort Rucker. “I was ecstatic,” Michael said. “Being a pilot is going to be amazing... I’m training to fly Blackhawk Helicopters.”
Medi-vac,Michael explained, is like an ambulance in the air. His duty will be to evacuate wounded soldiers from dangerous situations.
Flight school is a long process, which usually takes about a year and a half to complete. For the next few weeks, Michael will be in SERE (Survival Escape Resistance and Evasion) training, where he will learn the skills necessary for his future career.
Air Force Second Lieutenant Caley Cyphers
During high school, Caley decided she’d like to join the military in order to gain the experiences and education they offer. She began the long process of applying to several military institutions, including West Point, the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy. Her senior year, she was notified of her acceptance to all three.
Caley’s mother, Judy, said that after visiting each campus, Caley decided on the Air Force Academy which is located near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Over 18,000 applicants had applied for admission to the academy that year. Of the 1327 cadets accepted, Caley was one of only 184 female graduates.
During her four years at the Academy, Caley had to learn how to prioritize her responsibilities, of which she had many, Judy said. In addition to her scholarly classes, Caley was immersed in military life. She had many squadron responsibilities, and was involved in several volunteer activities, including the USAFA Women’s Rugby Team club. Caley was on the Athletic Director’s List, the Dean’s List, and the Commandant’s List.
Caley earned her jump wings after successfully completing five solo free-fall jumps. “It was a nerve-wracking experience,” Caley said. “You’re in the plane, waiting your turn, and you’re all hyped up. Then, you’re standing in the door, waiting your turn, and you take a breath, and just let go.”
She also spent two summers in Japan, participating in the USAFA Language Emersion Program, while living with a Japanese family.
Caley graduated from the Academy in May of 2008 as a Commissioned Second Lieutenant. She received a Bachelors of Science in Political Science with an emphasis on International Politics, and a minor in Japanese.
President Bush gave a speech at Caley’s graduation, then personally greeted each new officer. Judy said “there were about a thousand graduates, and [President Bush] was just as upbeat for the first one as he was for the last. It was raining and wet, but he never complained... When the Thunderbirds flew over, it was overcast and we couldn’t see them until afterward... [the graduates] threw up their hats, and the boom came at the exact moment their hats were in the air. It was an exhilarating moment.”
Currently, Caley is stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where she is involved in contracting, which involves the acquisition of supplies for the Air Force. Caley plans to pursue her Master’s Degree in Business, and would like to eventually have enough international experience to become a Foreign Areas Officer. This would give her the opportunity to work with a host nation, preferably in East Asia, where her linguistic interests lie.
Both Michael and Caley say they enjoy their careers and the opportunity to serve their country with dedication.
Officers in Caley’s line of work have a high deployment rate. When she becomes a First Lieutenant or Captain, Caley said she expects to be deployed to wherever she’s needed. “I’m nervous, but at the same time, I believe it’s just another experience that you go through in the military. I’m excited to do it, just to prove to myself that I can.”
“I knew Caley was determined,” Judy said, “but nothing like she proved herself to be... [The Air Force] is taking very good care of her. It’s been an experience that has really reinforced her character... It’s involved a lot of sacrifice, but it’s a blessing.”
Michael said he enjoys the Army because “it’s challenging, and ultimately very rewarding,” although he said that he does occasionally miss home. “It’s not easy. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it,” he said.
When asked why he made the decision to join the Army, Michael said he started looking into the possibility after 9/11. “I genuinely wanted to serve my country.”
He went on to speak about the honor of following in the footsteps of his close friend, U.S. Army Specialist Matthew Steyart. Steyart, a 2002 MSHS graduate, was killed in Afghanistan in Nov. 2005 when he was 21 years old.
Kim said that Michael and Matt were “very tight” growing up. “We were neighbors. When Matt was a senior and Michael was a sophomore, they were on the first MSHS wrestling team... they practiced together every morning. Matt was like an awesome big brother to Michael,” said Kim.
When Matt graduated and went into the Army, Michael told his family that he was going to do the same. “[Michael] was in Portland when Matt was killed. That was one of the hardest phone calls I ever had to make, when I told Michael the news,” said Kim.
Michael spoke very highly of his inspirational friend. “Matt is the real hero... he made the ultimate sacrifice. He actually gave his life... I just want to do my part for my country. I want to make Matt proud.”
