Civil Air Patrol cadets experience pilot training

  • Published
  • By Laura Salazar
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  For the past week, Laughlin has played host to members of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program while they learned what undergraduate pilot training is like.

CAP is a program originally created by the Department of Defense in 1941 to help the U.S. during World War II. After the war in 1947, Congress declared the mission of CAP to focus on aerospace education, cadet training and emergency services.

"Today, CAP flies 98 percent of search and rescue flights and 50 percent of Border Patrol flights. We also provide aerial support, train coastal pilots and train for predator missions," said Maj. Steve Esh, 99th comptroller squadron academics teacher.

The CAP cadet program is a summer program for students ages 12 to 21 years old. Twenty eight out of 200 applicants were selected for the program based on their performance and recommendations made by squadron and wing commanders.

"We have students here at Laughlin from Florida to Alaska. They are from all over the country. These students will learn drills, academics, simulators and experience physiology training throughout their time here at Laughlin," said Major Esh.

During training, the students condensed the first seven days of UPT into one day. Captain Mari Metzler, 47th Medical Operations squadron, gave the students a lesson on local area survival, altitude threats and special disorientations.

"We did a lot of classroom work the first couple of days. We learned about air traffic control, ejections, simulators, chambers, safety and preventing emergencies," said Melissa Weinhold, CAP cadet.

The students had the opportunity to sit in the chamber where they practiced putting on flight gear, such as helmets and masks, and hooking into an oxygen tank. They also had the chance to operate the T-6 simulators.

"The simulator ride was awesome. I was a little nervous, but I think I did okay. Lieutenant Crum's guidance really helped," said Parker Merrifield, CAP cadet.

For the rest of the summer, the students will continue on to other Air Force bases to experience different aspects of a military career.

"Some of the students will go to Maxwell for cadet officer school. Some of them will go to Vandenberg for a missile systems program, and some of them will go on to flight academy," said Major Esh.