Photo By Sgt. Michael Orton | Cadets with the Civil Air Patrol exit a CH-47 Chinook helicopter after taking an...... read more read more
By Sgt. Mike Orton
Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs
CAMP STEAD, Nev. – The Reno Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron and the Nevada Air and Army Guard gave 105 boys and girls a glimpse of military life July 5-12 during the squadron’s annual encampment at Camp Stead.
For almost 75 years, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) has been serving the American public as an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. It is a federally funded, nonprofit, volunteer run organization that focuses on aviation. It also boasts the largest fleet of Cessna airplanes in the world, said Eric Henry, commander of the Reno Civil Air Patrol Composite Squadron.
CAP was formed on Dec. 1, 1941, by veteran World War I pilots who wanted to serve in World War II but couldn’t enlist, Henry said. Their goal was locating submarines and U-boats along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Flying Cessna airplanes, pilots were ready to launch torpedoes into the water. The group actually sank two of Hitler’s U-boats, Henry said.
CAP has three primary missions – cadet programs, emergency services and aerospace technology education, Henry said. Two of the three missions, cadet programs and aerospace education, were featured during the encampment, now in its fourth year at Camp Stead.
“Basically this encampment is a boot camp of sorts for these kids, who range in age from 12 to 18,” Henry said. “We have a support staff of cadets and senior members, but this encampment is an entirely cadet-run program.”
The Nevada Air and Army Guard gave the cadets the chance to fly in C-130 Hercules airplanes, and CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters during orientations flights. The Army Guard also hosted the encampment and its Soldiers were happy to mentor possible future Army Guard members, said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Scott Taylor, a pilot for 168th Aviation (MEDEVAC).
“It’s important the Civil Air Patrol is out here interacting with the Nevada Guard,” Taylor said. “It instills a sense of freedom, shows what we do as a military, shows what they could be capable of if they join the military and it provides a look into the future of what they could possibly do to help secure our freedom as a nation.”
Many children attending this year’s encampment were from other states. Conner Sheldon, who began attending the Stead CAP encampment in 2013, was from Magalia, California. He and his mother, Cindi, were participating in this year’s event as staff members. Cindi was a senior cadre member with the encampment’s cadet programs and professional development courses.
“It has been a really great leadership program for my son,” Cindi Sheldon said. “It has taught him a lot of maturity. We are actually from California, but we come here because he has had such a good experience the last two years at this encampment.”
Cadet Lt. Col. James Grindstaff V, 17, the cadet executive officer for the encampment, said he wants to join the military. He graduated from Nevada State High School in Henderson and has completed a year of ROTC at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he is studying architecture. He is interested in becoming a combat engineer or possibly a pilot with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
“This encampment gives cadets a little taste of basic training,” Grindstaff said. “Obviously it is not quite as intense, but we try to give them a sense of what military life can be like.”
All CAP staff members are volunteers, must pass an FBI background check and receive child protection training before joining. Membership is $31 per year for cadets and $63 for senior members.
“I truly believe this is the premier program within the United States for our youth to learn discipline, moral development, aerospace education, leadership, customs and courtesies and what our country is all about,” Henry said.
For info on the Civil Air Patrol, call 877-227-9142 or visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.08.2016 14:56 |
| Story ID: | 185920 |
| Location: | CAMP STEAD, NV, US |
| Web Views: | 255 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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