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 NOGALES, Arizona USA — It was born in 1941 when German submarines prowled the oceans and the U.S. government enlisted civilian pilots to spot the subs. Today the Civil Air Patrol unites thousands of youth and adults who love flight and want to serve their communities.
In Santa Cruz County, cadets of CAP Squadron 101, ages 12 to 21, study aerospace and leadership and get themselves in shape physically. For their efforts, they get a chance to fly in CAP Cessnas and train in search and rescue, said Major James Hervert, who oversees six squadron commanders in southern Arizona. Ten cadets showed up at San Cayetano Elementary School in Rio Rico July 16 to help elementary and middle-school kids build model rockets. Steve Lubliner and Jerry King of the Southern Arizona Rocketry Association led the intergenerational aerospace project with help from Col. Robert Anderson of Squadron 101. It was a hot afternoon and the power was off, but there was enough sunlight beaming into the cafeteria for the kids to assemble their foot-long rockets. Despite their small size, the rockets made a huge whooshing sound as they shot at least 200 feet into the sky from the playground. Adults and youths looked skyward as each rocket arched and then drifted back to the ground. Unless the rocket landed in an irretrievable spot, its young builder got to take it home. "The whole idea is the catch them (kids) young and get them to focus on science, math and engineering," Anderson said. Since the aerospace outreach program began, "we're seeing a difference," said science teacher Oscar Villasenor from Desert Shadows Middle School, who joined the workshop, "More kids express an interest in astronomy." When teens and adults join CAP, "you're part of something huge - the U.S. Air Force," said Capt. Stan Newhard, new commander for Squadron 101. CAP, part of the Air Force Auxiliary, has three missions, Hervert said: emergency services, cadet program and an aerospace program. During the summer, some cadets learn to fly gliders, respond to emergencies or attend an encampment. "CAP trains young and old in search and rescue over land," said Maj. George Biggs, who gave out awards from the Veterans of Foreign Wars during a July 9 ceremony. The retired Air Force major has offered to teach technical navigation to the cadets. The new cadet commander, Frida Cazares, grew up in Nogales and participated in the ROTC program, she said. She learned about CAP from Anderson, one of her commanders and a "founding father" of Squadron 101 with Capt. Oscar Cordero "I love working with kids and the military structure," said Cazares, who joined CAP two and half years ago. Squadron 101 has about 30 youth cadets and eight to 10 adults, she said. Anyone who would like to join Squadron 101 may call Lt. Stephen Stoller, deputy commander, at (520) 289-6434, or come to the meeting at 5 p.m. every Wednesday in the Nogales High School ROTC building. For more information about CAP, visit http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/. Copyright © 2008, Nogales International.
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