Imagine walking into an aircraft hanger for a leadership class unaware that this is the first step in achieving your life goals.
Civil Air Patrol’s Lyman Squadron in Hilo started its Cadet Great Start classes to introduce 15 new cadets to their squadron on Nov. 3.
Leaders of the Great Start classes include Lt. Chamberlain A., Lt. Chamberlain S., Cadet Chief Master Sergeants Hill, Vares-Kanaele, Porter and Betts, and Cadet Airman Ballo. These senior members and cadets work to organize each meeting’s activities to educate the minds of the new cadets in the basics of the Civil Air Patrol.
All the leaders were excited to start the classes and teach. Vares-Kanaele said he believes that the Great Start Class “allows prospective cadets to familiarize themselves with the Cadet Program and to learn about Civil Air Patrol.”
The first few items on the agenda include the anthem, Cadet Oath and drill.
One of the first tests for the new cadets to get to their first rank is a drill test. The cadet leaders take about 20 minutes each meeting to run through the basics of drill.
The leaders stressed the importance of leadership and aerospace in Civil Air Patrol. Their first leadership game encouraged cadets to work together.
One cadet was blindfolded and another cadet guided them through an obstacle course using only their voice. Their goal was to walk to a basket, grab a ball and walk back.
The aerospace activity included critical thinking and teamwork to “survive on the moon.” This activity was enjoyed by both cadets and staff. Vares-Kanaele, who was in charge of this activity, said “it allowed the prospective cadets to work as a team.”
There was a list of items, and the cadets had to order them from what they thought would be the most important, then they were to compare their list to NASA’s list.
These Great Start classes help new cadets transition into the program while giving officers and NCOs the chance to display their leadership skills.
Lyman Squadron holds the classes in the hanger next to the planes to immerse the cadets in what it’s like at a typical meeting.
They are five weeks into the eight-week program and preparing the cadets for their first promotion.
Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, Civil Air Patrol operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually.
Civil Air Patrol’s 57,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.
Civil Air Patrol also plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to 24,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information
