Civil Air Patrol cadet officer school celebrates 50th

The youth were inspired by U.S. Air Force personnel as they learned leadership skills that will point them toward success in their academic, aviation, and professional careers, wrote Col. Joe Winter, the officer school’s activity director, in a news release. He added that the skills “will no doubt lead them to exciting careers.”

The cadets participated in a variety of lectures and supporting discussions to explore leadership topics, noted Winter, and they practiced what they learned through a series of comprehensive writing and speaking assignments, “culminating with graduation and the anniversary-themed banquet” July 6.

The organization noted that the leadership training helps cadets “improve their skills in a variety of areas, including search and rescue, flight and emergency services, science, leadership fundamentals, citizenship and military courtesies, and to explore aerospace technology and aviation careers.”

Scores of cadets used their skills to assist in recovery efforts after a series of hurricanes in 2017 battered the United States and Puerto Rico. In an example of leadership and community-building efforts, a group of five cadets from Florida spent part of their summer flying out of Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci/Isla Grande Airport in San Juan, in continuing relief operations to improve infrastructure on the devastated island.

More than 7,500 youth are participating in a variety of the organization’s 2018 summer activities, designed to help young people explore science, technology, engineering, and math concepts, as well as aerospace technology and aviation careers.