Zachariah Siemers was around 10 years old when he realised he wanted to join the US Air Force.
It was something that sparked his interest after he watched some old World War II documentaries with his dad, the now 16-year-old told The Profile.
“My dad once told me about my great grandfather being a pilot in World War II and it just inspired me.”
Zachariah said his great grandfather was in the United States Army Airforce or USAAF.
Zachariah, who is a current member of 37th squadron Thames ATC, said he had a lot of family members who served in the army or navy, and “wanted to be the one” to follow his great grandfather into the Air Force.
It’s what makes his recent news a special milestone in his journey.
Zachariah returned to New Zealand after a two-week encampment in Japan last month with the US Air Cadets at the Misawa Airforce Base, a joint United States of America/Japan base on the shores of Lake Ogawara, where he was selected to take part as a cadre or cadet leader. He attended the same encampment in 2024 as a cadet, and was awarded Honour Cadet of his flight.
But his transition into cadre this year was “definitely a big step”, he said.
“As a cadet, you are the one learning and achieving things amongst your peers. Moving into cadre, you are being put into leadership so I had to now put my skills from last year into a leadership position.”
The leader, who is also a year 11 student from Hauraki Plains College, said all cadres had to be “at the top of their game” as they were expected to set an example.
“We are the ones making sure the cadets have someone to look up to and go to at the end of the encampment,” he said.
His title was Cadet Chief Master Sergeant, but people referred to him as Chief Siemers. He was able to take on new experiences, such as when he said he visited the Japanese side of the air force base and met members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force or JASDAF such as pilots, trainers and crew members who worked on the T2 Training Fighters, he said.
“They allowed us to put on the gear that is required to fly and sit in the cockpit.”
But the best part of the encampment was being reunited with old friends he met previously, who also went back as cadre.
One significant thing Zachariah was able to do was trade unit patches.
“My unit commander from 37th squadron Thames gave me three of our unit patches.”
He said it was a very rare thing as his squadron didn’t give patches out easily.
His first trade was with his cadet deputy commander from California for a challenge coin from the Los Angeles Space Force at the Air Force Base in California.
The second trade was for a 35 MXG Staff patch with his encampment unit commander, who worked as an engineer for the F16 engines.
His final patch was traded with a senior member from the Okinawa cadet squadron who gave Zachariah a patch from his squadron.
His love of patches was evident, as he purchased more and was also given some as gifts.
It’s no wonder he soon adopted the call sign “patches”.
Zachariah’s advice for people who would like the opportunity to do something similar was to research and look up the New Zealand Cadet Forces.
“It may not be the US Cadet Forces but they are just as awesome.
“The closest unit is 37 Squadron ATC in Thames at the airfield. There is a recruitment night coming up in August at the Thames airfield… but you can still drop in any time,” he said.
“They offer an amazing amount of opportunities, I highly recommend if you are interested please give it a go, you will definitely feel different.”
