Civil Air Patrol develops youth into leaders

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Chad Morris, 52nd Mission Support Group deputy commander and senior Civil Air Patrol leader, conducts a lesson from a field-training guide in Luxembourg July 6, 2014, during a CAP training event. The cadets were preparing to perform a ground search and rescue exercise. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo/Released)

Civil Air Patrol develops youth into leaders

Civil Air Patrol Lt. Patrick Murphy, a senior CAP leader, tests the cadets July 6, 2014, about their current coordinates during an exercise in Luxembourg. The cadets were required to consult a map during the land navigation portion, and the CAP leaders expected the cadets to be able to search for a missing person while knowing their own location. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo/Released)

Civil Air Patrol develops youth into leaders

Civil Air Patrol cadets set up an air-to-ground panel July 6, 2014, in Luxembourg. The panels communicate from the ground team to an aircraft overhead, and the way the cadets set up the signal panels sends a message to the pilot, ranging from someone requiring medical assistance to mission complete. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo/Released)

Civil Air Patrol develops youth into leaders

Published July 18, 2014
By Senior Airman Alexis Siekert
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Many have counted down to the day they could join the armed forces and serve their country, but what about beginning service at the age of 12?

Through the Civil Air Patrol, teens ages 12-18 can grow and learn with a strong mission geared toward aerospace education, leadership in the cadet program and emergency services.

Spangdahlem has its own program and is looking for more young leaders to get involved.

"No matter what it is that you're interested in, Civil Air Patrol has something for you," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Chad Morris, 52nd Mission Support Group deputy commander from AltaVista, Va., and senior member of CAP. "And at the same time, it doesn't matter what you want to do in life. Leadership, planning, organization and goal orientation are great skills to learn early on and that is what CAP is centered on."

CAP is the U.S. Air Force's auxiliary, but has been around since before the Air Force separated from the Army.

According to the CAP's official website, during World War II, thousands of volunteer civilian pilots answered America's call to national service and sacrifice by accepting and performing critical wartime missions. The contributions of CAP include logging more than 500,000 flying hours, sinking two enemy submarines and saving hundreds of crash victims during WWII.

Morris has been active in the CAP for nearly 30 years and gives much credit to his involvement.

"It is a great program," he said. "I credit it to getting me into the Air Force Academy, and I stayed in the program to give back."

Maintaining an overseas program can be challenging and the number of cadets is significantly lower than in a state-side program, Morris explained, but Spangdahlem's CAP is still active. Over the Fourth of July weekend, five CAP cadets participated in a field training exercise to qualify on many survival and emergency services tasks.

Spangdahlem's CAP will be teaming with Ramstein's program for an encampment, much like a basic military training week, in the beginning of August.

Morris encourages all well-rounded middle and high school students with interest in aerospace, technical programs, leadership, military or outdoor activities to give CAP a try.

For more general information about CAP, visit http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com. To learn more about Spangdahlem's local CAP, email nhqos126@yahoo.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/capspangdahlem.