CAP cadets visit Laughlin, receive hands-on experience with Air Force flight ops

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Introducing young prospective pilots to the basics of flying Air Force aircraft is nothing new to the members of the 47th Flying Training Wing.

So when 21 Civil Air Patrol cadets arrived at the base July 6 to get an inside look at what it takes to become a pilot, Laughlin was more than ready.

The cadets came to Del Rio from all corners of the United States to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the base's facilities, including the air traffic control tower, aircraft maintenance hangars and the parachute shop, said CAP Capt. Steven Solomon, Southeast Region Director of Public Affairs.

"The cadets also received briefings on the mission and operations of a flight-training wing as well as academic instruction on jet engines, aerodynamics, energy management, visual and instrument flight planning, aircraft operation limits, and aerospace physiology," Captain Solomon said.

The CAP members were given the opportunity to fly in each of Laughlin's three training aircraft, although their T-6 Texan II and T-38 Talon flights were conducted in a simulator.

Cadet Capt. Jeremy Kauffman, 19, said the experience makes him want to be a pilot even more than before he came to Laughlin.

Several of the young cadets said their tour of Laughlin has helped better prepare them for a career in the Air Force.

"This is a really rare opportunity," said Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Ryan Olson, 15. "For someone my age to get to do this is really great."

A former CAP cadet and current 84th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, 1st Lt. Dimitrios Grillos, answered questions the cadets had about life in the Air Force, being a pilot and various ways to achieve their goals.

"I think this is a great program, and I like to support it any way I can," the lieutenant said. "It really can set these cadets up for a successful military career."

According to Captain Solomon, the cadets' visit is one of about 30 National Cadet Special Activities being sponsored by CAP across the nation this summer.

"These activities allow cadets to hone 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," he explained.

"Through its cadet program, CAP builds strong citizens for the future by providing leadership training, technical education, scholarships and career education to young men and women ages 12 to 20," the captain added.

CAP, the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. The members perform 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.