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  • Civil Air Patrol Chief Master Sgt. Sarah Wood, (right) of Edmond, and other CAP cadets line up for drills on Saturday morning at Vance Air Force Base. Civil Air Patrol cadets and leaders from across Oklahoma were at Vance for training. (Staff Photo by SHAWN YORKS)

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March 13, 2010

Civil Air Patrol Oklahoma cadets train at Vance

By Kasey Fowler, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — About 70 Civil Air Patrol Oklahoma Wing cadets and 30 senior members gathered at Vance Air Force Base Saturday to take classes and get training.

CAP is a volunteer civilian auxiliary of the Air Force. CAP cadets range in age from 12 to 20 years of age. CAP has three primary missions: aerospace education, emergency services and cadet programs. In 2009, there were 17 squadrons with 422 senior members and 265 cadets in the CAP Oklahoma Wing.

The senior members are adults who lead the CAP cadets.

“We are teaching the adults who lead the cadets. They are learning about mentoring and leadership. We are gong to be covering the rules and regulations of CAP. It is a structured program that has steps and progressions that start from when they walk in the door,” said CAP Lt. Col. Debora Spencer, Oklahoma Wing professional development officer. “We are all volunteers. A lot of us are teachers, who are used to leading, but some of us are not.”

Cadets and senior members came from all across Oklahoma to receive training.

“We have people from all over. We have people from Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Grove, Tulsa. We also have a few from Texas. They come from all over the state to Enid to train,” said Spencer

The cadets took classes from other cadets in several areas.

“The cadets lead the cadets. They are teaching the classes. They are learning about Air Force customs and courtesies, aerospace, drill leadership styles, among others,” said CAP Capt. Nancy Bartlett, director of cadet programs for the wings.

Also during the training, CAP cadets were given the opportunity to work on drills with the Silver Talon Honor Guard from Vance Air Force Base.

“They are all very, very excited to be able to do this,” said CAP Capt. Sandra Smith, public affairs officer with the local Enid CAP chapter.

The cadets worked on lining up by height, marching and turns.

Cadets from Grove worked extra with the Silver Talon Honor Guard on color guard techniques after winning a competition earlier in the year.

“We held a statewide cadet competition. The group from Grove won. They are going to regional competition in Albuquerque in April,” said Spencer.

The Grove team worked with flags and rifles to prepare for the upcoming competition. The Silver Talon Honor Guard members gave tips and techniques to the group as they worked.

Saturday evening, following the training classes, the CAP cadets had a dance at the VFW and stayed overnight at the local armory.

For information about CAP go to www.gocivilairpatrol.com.

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