To recruit more members and educate the public on its mission and programs, the Civil Air Patrol held an open house for youth from 12 to 18 at the National Guard Armory on Oct. 20.
The patrol is the official civilian auxiliary of the Air Force, chartered as a nonprofit for youth development, aerospace education and the promotion of aviation. Its open house at the armory is held annually by the Jack Schweiker Composite Squadron so youth and parents can learn about its programs.
“We’d love to have more cadets, to keep growing,” said patrol Deputy Commander Soleiman Raie. “Our cadets eventually turned to senior members … so we’re kind of trying to organically grow the organization.”
Among information tables at the armory, one displayed the patrol’s dress and work uniforms, while cadets explained the clothing’s significance as a privilege to wear. Other tables offered demonstrations of equipment senior patrol members use for search and rescue missions and programs available for cadets to learn robotics and aerospace science.
The Cadet Wings Program enables members to gain enough experience for a private pilot’s license.
“We have them build drones,” Raie explained. “We have them build different models. Skyrockets, we get them in planes. We teach them about how flying works, and then get them into planes to do it. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a pilot.”
One of the cadets at the armory, Luke Patterson, explained how members can move up in rank to leadership positions. The Haddonfield resident was the second-in-command cadet at one of the patrol’s summer academies, responsible for 180 cadets and 24 staffers.
Haddonfield resident Luke Patterson explained during his talk at the open house how Civil Air Patrol cadets can attain leadership positions.
Patterson also talked about skills cadets gain through rigorous standards they are required to uphold during the summer programs as the attend aerospace, cyber and officer academies.
“You’re going to be learning about personal leadership,” he explained, “so manage your time, self-discipline, personal accountability, activism.”
The Civil Air Patrol Squadron holds meetings at the National Guard Armory every Monday at 7:30 p.m.
