CAP to host open house on April 21

By Alice Wadley
Staff Writer

The Castle Valley Composite Squadron, a local unit of the Civil Air Patrol, is hosting a public open house on April 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CAP Hangar at the Carbon County Airport.
Civil Air Patrol was founded Dec. 1, 1941. The longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with the Air Force retired military and civilian employees. CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC 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 currently participating in the CAP cadet program. Performing missions for America for the past 75 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans.
According to Capt. Alice Wadley, squadron commander, the entire community is welcome to attend and learn more about CAP. Members of the squadron will be present to greet visitors and share information on CAP’s three missions: Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs and Emergency Services.
The cadet program transforms youth into dynamic Americans and aerospace leaders. CAP accomplishes its Cadet Program through a curriculum of leadership, aerospace, fitness and character. The program follows a military model and emphasizes Air Force traditions and values. Today’s cadets are tomorrow’s aerospace leaders.
To become a cadet, you must be be at least 12 years old and not yet 19 years old. Cadets usually meet two hours per week and one Saturday per month, on average, and also have opportunities to attend leadership encampments, career academies, and other activities during the summer.
Though Civil Air Patrol is known for its flying missions, CAP adults members, known as Senior Members, do so much more than just fly. In fact less than a fifth of all CAP members are pilots or aircrew members. CAP adult members come from all walks of life. Some are doctors, nurses, paramedics, or other medical professionals. Others are lawyers, paralegals, accountants, computer programmers, and other business professionals and executives. Really just about any career or background can be useful to and found in the ranks of the CAP adult membership. CAP supports a variety of missions that require adults from all walks of life.
The senior member program is open to adults over the age of 18. All senior members must pass a background check and go through an interview process to become a member.
If you are not able to attend the open house, the cadets meet every Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Carbon County airport. Future cadets and their parents are always welcome to attend the meetings. Senior members meet on the second and fourth Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.
Anyone requesting further information on the squadron or open house may contact Capt. Alice Wadley, (435) 609-0404, Cadet Haze Newman, hazenewman@gmail.com or visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.