Articles by Lt Case

On Tuesday 30 June 2009, three cadets, Ryan J. Badadilla, Tag A. Morgan, and Chaz M. Vandall began the Civil Air Patrol’s Great Start Program as they joined our squadron. They were joined by several of the veteran cadet members of the squadron as well as this was the first time the Charleston Squadron used the Great Start Program.

Civil Air Patrol’s Great Start program is designed to get the cadets off to a rapid progression toward their first achievement. The program includes instruction on leadership, character development, customs and courtesies, aerospace education and physical training.

On Saturday 18 July two of the three new cadets participated in a field day activity which included a review of all basic aspects of the the cadet program.  The day began eventfully as we had to have a tree removed from the road into the area of Coonskin where we met.  Many thanks to officer Rodney Jones for his use of a chain saw to clear our way to the shelter where we worked.

Upon  completion of the morning activities, cadets and senior members visited Wendy’s for lunch and then visited the runway at Yeager Airport to view several T39-N Sabreliners which were parked at Yeager for Navy flight training.  Thanks go out to Executive Air for allowing us runway access through their facility.

Cadets and seniors then returned to Coonskin to finish the balance of the educational activities for the day.  At 1700 we were joined by other members of the squadron and their families for a cookout and aerospace education courtesy of Major Robert DeVere.

The Great Start Program culminated with a graduation ceremony on Tuesday 28 July.  At that time, all three cadets were acknowledged for completing the course and Cadet Tag Morgan was awarded his Curry Achievement.  Now, as soon as practical, we will be scheduling Orientation Rides for these fine young cadets.

According to Deputy Commander Boggs, it is hoped that by using the Great Start Program, cadets will have a more uniform training, a better understanding of what CAP is all about, and have a better sense of what direction they are going in the Civil Air Patrol.

Charleston cadets have been busy furthering their aerospace education through travel. During the weekend of 17 May, the cadets traveled to our nations’ capital to view the Andrews Air Show. The cadets left Charleston during the early hours of the 17th and spent the night in a hotel arriving back home on the 18th after a stop at the museum at Dulles Airport.

The cadets returned to the road on 7 June 2008 to head to Dayton, Ohio where they saw another air show and toured the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. They returned home later that day.

These trips helped to provide the cadets with information about the various aircraft they saw as well as the history of aviation while, at the same time allowing them the opportunity to enjoy seeing these aircraft in action.

Story by 2Lt. Charles Case. Photos by Maj. Vickie Bond.

Members of the Charleston Cadet Squadron kicked off Memorial Day weekend at 1000 on Saturday 24 May with an open house at their squadron building on Airport Road in Charleston. The open house included displays for Cadet Programs, Emergency Services, Aerospace Education, and Drug Demand Reduction. Refreshments were also available at a hot dog/bake sale.

Various activities were available to prospective members including the ability to see the effects of drug and alcohol use through the use of fatal vision goggles and the opportunity to build and launch Fuji rockets. The Charleston Fire Department brought in their Safety House and members were able to tour it and learn how to escape in the event of a fire. The West Virginia Wing also made Civil Air Patrol’s Cessna 182 aircraft with the “glass cockpit” available for inspection for both members and nonmembers.

The Cessna was parked on the field at Yeager Airport. During much of the time the time the Cessna was there, A U.S. Navy training jet was also parked alongside the Cessna. Through the generosity of the Navy pilots, visitors and members were also able to view the fighter jet and talk with the pilots.

The open house concluded at 1600 at which time the members of the Charleston Cadet Squadron color guard began a second activity as they traveled to Kanawha Valley Dragway Park in Southside, West Virginia in Mason County. The color guard presented the colors for the Beat the Heat event which was sponsored by Beat the Heat, Inc. This event is designed to help teach youth to stay off drugs and if they wish to race, to race safely.

After a day off to recover from the long day of events on Saturday, the cadets began arriving at 0730 on Memorial Day to stand guard at the Veterans War Memorial located on the grounds of the Capitol Complex in Charleston. A pair of cadets guarded the memorial from 0800 to almost 1900 on Memorial Day. There was a changing of the guard each hour. At 1500, the cadets placed a wreath at the memorial and observed the national moment of silence while Miss Erica Strobel played Taps.

The entire squadron would like to thank all those who attended, participated in, and helped make possible the events of this weekend. While we would certainly miss someone if we tried to provide a comprehensive list, there were many businesses, individuals, and agencies that contributed time, financial and other resources. We would like to give special thanks to the FAA for allowing the use of their parking facilities, the 130th Airlift Wing of the WV Air National Guard for providing transportation services, Executive Air for the use of their facility for display of our aircraft, and the Charleston Fire Department for their time and the use of the safety house.