November 10, 2026
Media Advisory: SIU ROTC programs celebrate Military Appreciation Week
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC Detachment 205 (AFROTC) are participating in two off-campus activities in conjunction with Military Appreciation Week.
Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover both events on Friday, Nov. 13.
The AFROTC will hold an A-10 capabilities-and-mission brief starting at 10 a.m. in the foyer outside of the St. Nicholas Brewing Company’s Southern Illinois Airport location. The presentation features U.S. Air Force Pilots Col. Rick “McGraw” Mitchell and Lt. Col. Joshua “NOMAR” Geidel, who are SIU alumni and will fly over the Military Appreciation football game on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Following the presentation at 11:30 a.m., the group moves to the line of flight to view the A-10s. This provides an opportunity for photos and videos of the aircraft and interviews with the pilots, cadets and alumni.
Media members are advised to arrive at 10 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. so as not to interrupt the presentation. Those interested in attending can contact Lt. Col. Chay Derbigny, commander of the AFROTC detachment 205, at 708-574-9288.
In addition, the Army ROTC and Saluki football players will visit the Marion VA Medical Center to meet with local veterans. The media is invited to stage at the flagpole outside of the medical center’s main building at 11 a.m.
The visit features special guests retired U.S. Army Col. Gregory Gadson and retired U.S. Army Col. Will Huff, both West Point graduates. Gadson served for more than 25 years and is a decorated combat veteran, with deployments to Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, Operation Joint Forge, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He’s a nationally recognized leadership speaker, Wounded Warrior advocate and former commander of Fort Belvoir.
Huff served for more than 23 years, including deployments to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Currently, he’s the director of partnerships for Soldiers to Sidelines, a non-profit organization that trains veterans, service members, military spouses or Gold Star family members to become a character-based sports coach.
Both Gadson and Huff will be guests at Saturday’s Military Appreciation Week football game, where SIU alumnus Brig. Gen. Leonard Williams will conduct a swearing-in ceremony during halftime. Williams, assistant adjutant general-Army and commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, will administer the oath to dozens of local recruits joining the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.
Media interested in attending the event at the Marion VA can contact Todd Wright, public affairs officer for the Marion VA Medical Center, at 618-694-6717.
Details about the Military Appreciation football game, including free tickets for veterans and active-duty military members can be found here.