Troy University’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 017 has recorded another “first” with the selection of Cadet Col. Camryn Mote as a Weather Officer for the Air Force.

Mote will graduate and commission in the Air Force in May and will be sent to the Naval Postgraduate School’s Basic Meteorology Program, one of the leading meteorology programs in the country. There, she will earn a certificate in meteorology under World Meteorological Organization requirements for practicing professional meteorologists.

A chemistry major, Mote didn’t expect the Air Force was going to need her in meteorology. Force Support was her first choice, but the Air Force had recently opened up the career to other STEM-related degrees.

“I was shocked at being selected and since then, I have done a lot of research and I’m excited to start training,” Mote said. “The Air Force is in need of meteorologists.”

Detachment commander Lt. Col. Stephen Cox said that because of the specific educational requirements of the field, the Air Force was “opening up the aperture” to allow about 40 percent of those in the career field to have different educational backgrounds such as mathematics, computer science, computational science and physical science.

“This is another first for Det 017 and an example of how the Air Force is getting after the manning problem with certain career fields,” Cox said. “With her chemistry degree, Cadet Mote has proven she has the aptitude and ability to excel in a difficult Technical degree program.  This will be a great foundation for her to build upon as USAF looks to her to fill critically manned positions like Weather and Environmental Sciences Officer.  Unique problems require innovative solutions and create opportunities like this for not only Cadet Mote but also other AFROTC Cadets and Troy Students.”

A Geneva native, Mote transferred to TROY from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Fall 2019.

“I’ve had a great experience at TROY in my short time here. I love that it is such a small community – and small class sizes. There is always someone there to help when you need it,” she said.

Mote has been in Air Force ROTC all four years of her college career, but still said there was some trepidation when it came time to transfer.

“I was nervous about transferring schools my junior year because most people alredy have their group of friends and I would be the ‘new person’ and not know anyone,” she said. “I was so wrong.”

From her first ROTC day, she was adopted right into the fold.

She held the posts of recruiting officer, field training prep flight commander, training group squadron commander and, currently, is serving as inspector general.

“I made so many friends and since then have formed so many friendships with other cadets. When they say you’re part of a family in ROTC, they really mean it,” Mote said.