Spartan Showcase: Kalli Wall
The Air Force ROTC program offered an opportunity Kalli Wall couldn’t pass up. She joined the program as a first-year student at Case Western Reserve University because she knew it would lead her to a unique career path.
Now a rising fourth-year majoring in chemistry, Wall is getting a glimpse at where it could take her. She’s been selected to be a weather officer in the Air Force.
“Meteorology is not something I had ever considered doing, but that’s kind of exactly what I wanted from the military, to challenge me by putting me down a path I would never think to pick for myself!” said Wall, who is from Mason, Ohio. “I hope that it continues to open the door to new experiences down the road.”
Wall’s father, a former member of the United States Air Force, encouraged her to pursue military experience, believing it would be a good fit—and it has.
Air Force ROTC courses are not held on CWRU’s campus so Wall commutes to Kent State University for those offerings. Her ROTC classes are designed to build leadership skills for when she commissions. She also had to graduate from field training, a three-week training/bootcamp at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, which she completed last summer.
Her ROTC schedule requires delicate balance, especially as Wall also is a member of the CWRU volleyball team.
“It takes a lot of time management, and even more communication between my coaches, professors, and ROTC Cadre,” Wall explained. “I have to make a lot of sacrifices because things inevitably overlap, but so far everyone has been extremely supportive and understanding.”
Wall also keeps busy as a member of the sorority Alpha Chi Omega and through research with Sauve Group in the Department of Chemistry at the College of Arts and Sciences.
Get to know Wall better.
Answers have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
1. What drew you to CWRU?
I was initially drawn to the volleyball program as I went through the recruiting process. I thought CWRU would be the perfect place to continue my athletic career while also pursuing a degree in STEM. I loved that academics were always put first, but the volleyball was still very competitive.
2. What interested you in your area of study?
I liked how applicable chemistry was to many different fields. I thought it would open up all kinds of possibilities for my career ahead.
3. What have been your most valuable experiences in ROTC?
Field training itself was so incredible for me. I got so close with the people I was working with. It was my first experience being fully immersed in that kind of intense environment and I feel like it taught me so much.
Another important thing for me was how I got the chance to be a flight commander last semester, which essentially means I got to teach and lead a group of underclassmen cadets for the semester. It’s so much fun and so rewarding to make a direct impact on the program!
4. What have been your favorite moments as a member of the volleyball team?
Getting to go to the NCAA tournament two years in a row is definitely up there. The environment was so exciting and different from any of the other games we have played in. I would also have to say our trip to Brazil my sophomore year. Traveling to such a beautiful place with some of the best girls resulted in some amazing memories, and getting to play against some Brazilian teams was such a cool experience.
5. What are your future career goals?
Right now I am just planning on seeing where my military career takes me! I am excited to see where I get stationed and what life as a weather officer looks like.
