Barksdale hosts CAP Louisiana Wing Encampment

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Chad Warren
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  For the 13th consecutive year, Barksdale hosted the Louisiana Wing Civil Air Patrol Cadet Encampment.

The encampment is a 10-day course from July 15-25 designed to give young CAP cadets the opportunity to experience Air Force customs and get an up-close look at various military careers.

The CAP was founded in December 1941 one week before the bombing of Pearl Harbor by citizens concerned about the safety of the U.S. coastline. Now, there are more than 56,000 members nationwide, with 21,000 cadets aged 12-20.

The CAP program is broken into 52 wings across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, each of which hosts encampments open to the CAP cadets. In order for a CAP Cadet Encampment to be certified, it must provide 40 hours of curriculum consisting of military knowledge and familiarization. The Louisiana Wing Cadet Encampment, which includes cadets from all over Louisiana and parts of Texas, is supported by 21 base agencies and consists of a staggering 82 hours of hands-on curriculum. Putting together such a busy schedule of training for the cadets requires dedication, but proves to be a rewarding accomplishment for someone with a long personal history with the CAP.

"I have been involved with CAP for 34 years since I was a 14-year-old cadet in the Florida Wing," said Lt. Col. Paul Griffith, 2d Bomb Wing plans and programs and liaison to the Louisiana CAP. "The cadet program did so much in helping to prepare me to become a member of the Air Force that I feel privileged to give back all the time and efforts I can to help the next generation of cadets who will then become future military leaders."

This year's CAP encampment helped prepare more than 60 cadets for military life.
The cadets were able to tour Barksdale and visit numerous units such as the 2d Civil Engineer Squadron fire department, the 2d Security Forces Squadron military working dog section, also crewmembers of the B-52, as well as receive training from Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists.

"It has been really nice to have access to all of the things we have," said Cadet 1st Lt. Ashley McDonald, cadet commander. "We are very lucky cadets to be able to see firsthand what the Air Force is really like."

According to CAP 2nd Lt. Moore, the CAP program gives cadets a sense of belonging, confidence, positive role models, leadership training and memories to last them a lifetime. The success of the program is reflected by the accomplishments of the cadets.

"We currently have one cadet in my squadron that is going to West Point and I know that CAP was one of the leading factors of getting him appointed," said CAP 2nd Lt. Moore. "We also have another one in Air Force ROTC at Louisiana Tech. Civil Air Patrol gives them skills and experiences that help them succeed."

Barksdale will host the Louisiana Wing encampment again in 2011.