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Little Rock AFB Hosts Civil Air Patrol Cadets
by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Dana Cable
July
2,
2023
More than 150 Civil Air Patrol Cadets
across Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas toured Little Rock Air Force
Base June 26-27, 2023, during their annual cadet encampment.
These cadets volunteered a week of their
summer to train with the Civil Air Patrol.
The encampment
program is designed to mentor young Civil Air Patrol Cadets giving
them a positive outlet to learn about aviation, military customs and
give them a feeling of real camaraderie between peers as they spend
a week training together.
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June 26, 2023 - Tech. Sgt. Jovan Hill, 19th Maintenance Squadron graphic designer, answers questions from Civil Air Patrol Cadets about the maintenance career field during a summer encampment at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. The cadets were shown how maintenance career fields contribute to the mission of agile combat airlift anytime, anywhere. (mage
created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah Miller.)
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“The 2023 Arkansas encampment
showcases the Cadet Programs in a positive, age-appropriate manner
consistent with CAP and Air Force traditions,” said Richard
Gerhardt, Southwest Liaison Regional Operations Director for
Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana CAP Wings. “Cadet encampments focus
on developing leadership skills, character, aerospace education, and
fitness – everything that is valued in a model Airman.”
Founded on December 1, 1941, to mobilize the nation's civilian aviation
resources for national defense service, CAP has evolved into a
premier public service organization that still carries out emergency
service missions when needed — in the air and on the ground. As a
Total Force partner and auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, Civil Air
Patrol is there to search for and find the lost, provide comfort in
times of disaster and work to keep the homeland safe.
During
the week-long encampment, cadets stayed on Camp Robinson where they
received an orientation flight on a Blackhawk Helicopter.
While at LRAFB, cadets had the opportunity to explore a C-130J Super
Hercules, experience C-130J Virtual Reality Maintenance Training and
learn from a host of other Air Force related career fields.
“Vital to developing young aerospace leaders is exposure to Air
Force members with first-hand knowledge and experience of flight and
space operations,” said Gerhardt. “By providing aircrew, aircraft,
orientation flights, static displays, and other mission orientation
opportunities if able. Air Force base support to these encampments
is key to energizing and motivating the cadet youth and inspiring
them to continue their service as adults.”
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June 26, 2023 - Loadmasters
from the 41st Airlift Squadron provide an overview of their
mission to Civil Air Patrol Cadets during a summer
encampment at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. (Image created by USA
Patriotism! from U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Zachary Kee.)
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Encampment is a
requirement for cadets to promote within the organization and serves
as an opportunity for cadets to develop leadership skills,
investigate the aerospace sciences and related careers, commit to a
habit of regular exercise and live the Core Values.
In its
Total Force role, the Civil Air Patrol operates a fleet of 550
aircraft and performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search
and rescue missions. This is tasked by the Air Force Rescue
Coordination Center (AFRCC) and is credited by them with saving an
average of 78 lives annually.
Civil Air Patrol’s 56,000
members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief
and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state, and
local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in
aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young
people.
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