Day One

COCOA BEACH, Florida - What a great day to start the Air Force Space Command Familiarization Course! Upon arrival, anyone could have noticed the steel-blue sky, penetrated by the bright Florida sun. It was a brilliant view that promised wonderful things. With cadets arriving from many states, both near and far, and using different modes of transportation, gathering all of them in one place was no easy task. To be sure, it took a lot of coordination and a great deal of patience on the part of the senior staff.

Gradually, as the cadets arrived at the Cocoa Beach Resort, they familiarized themselves with the facilities. Although there was a delay in room assignments, it was not as inconvenient as it might seem. The delay gave the cadets time to relax and socialize, getting to know each other.

As they interacted and exchanged impressions, the Cadet PAO team had the chance to ask the cadets how they felt about the upcoming events. Were they looking forward to the AFSPC-FC experience? The cadets didn't give many enthusiastic answers, probably due to fatigue and hunger from their travels. We definitely hope that their answers will change after a nice warm dinner and a good night’s rest.

After the gleefully welcome dinner on Patrick Air Force Base, the cadets moved on to the 45th Space Wing Command Conference room to attend the Welcome Briefing. This was a formal introduction to the activity that laid down the rules and expectations as they applied to all participants. Cadet Master Sergeant Tim Fisher (Georgia Wing) said, "I expect to gain a better understanding of the Air Force Space Command.”

Directly after the Welcome Briefing, the cadets headed back to their rooms for lights out. There, in the comfort of their rooms, they were free to dream about the exciting things they will encounter in the very near future.

Day Two

COCOA BEACH, Florida - The sky is wide, the sun is up, we're well rested and ready to go… and we’re off! As it turned out, the first full day of the Air Force Space Command Familiarization Course was definitely an exciting one!

After a satisfying breakfast at 0700, the cadets attended a class taught by Major Dickinson. Space 101, an introductory lecture, covered the basic principles of Space as well as the Air Force’s and NASA’s involvement with Space. Directly after the class, the cadets took a comprehensive quiz that consists of 25 questions about the material covered in the presentation. When asked if she had learned a lot from the Space 101 class, Cadet Second Lieutenant Laura Boehk said, “I already knew some of the material, but I still learned a lot.”

After the pop quiz, we marched down to the Riverside Dining Facility and enjoyed a nice hot lunch. It was such a beautiful day, that some of the cadets chose to eat their meal on the outside porch.

The highlight of the day was a visit to the John F. Kennedy Space Center, where the cadets visited many different exhibits. The most popular were the LC-39 Observation Gantry, the Apollo/Saturn V center (which contained the real Saturn V rocket), and the International Space Station Center.

Right after touring the displays, the cadets had a treat. They met former astronaut Col. Rick Searfoss, USAF Ret. He talked to us about the best way to get started in a profession in Space Aeronautics, then signed autographs for all of us. Afterwards, we got a chance to visit the rest of the exhibit. Cadet Second lieutenant Eashan Samak said, "My favorite exhibit at the Space Center was probably the Apollo 1, and also seeing the launch control center.”

The cadets then headed back to the 45th Space Wing Command Conference Room, where they had delicious Subway sandwiches for dinner. Directly after that, Captain Gary Dahlke held a class explaining the Seven Wonders of the Universe. Inspired by the topics that Captain Dahlke had thrown at them, the cadets proceeded to overwhelm their instructor with an apparently endless stream of questions.

This was definitely a wonderful and successful start to what is sure to become one of the greatest experiences the cadets have ever had. Participants' expectations from this activity are high, and they are all looking forward to being surprised by getting more than they'd expected.

Day Three

Day Four

COCOA BEACH, Florida – The day was long but filled with rewards. Running a little behind schedule, we quickly ate our breakfast and loaded onto the Air Force bus. To pass the time, some cadets cracked jokes as we drove to the 1st Range Operations Squadron. There, we toured the facilities and learned about the cooperation needed from all mission members in order to have a successful launch. These members work hard and smart in making sure the launch runs smoothly, as the countdown timer ticks away.

The 45th Weather Squadron introduced us to their mission and showed us a short film about what they do. We watched with great interest as the video played across the screens. Mr. William Roeder brought laughter to the room as he briefed us on the proper safety procedures one must follow in order to prevent being struck by lightning. When asked what was her favorite part of the day, C/MSgt Hanley, commented "The speech about the lightning. The speaker was really funny."

When the lightning show was over, we wished our tour guides farewell and boarded "our" bus. We discussed amongst ourselves what we had seen and heard, as we used the time profitably on our way to the Balloon Release Facility. There, Mr. Dave Chapman briefed us on the balloons and their purpose. After the briefing, we were told to pick a number between 1 and 100 for a mystery drawing. The lucky winner, C/1st Lt. Benjamin Frazier, was the one chosen to release one of the spherical balloons into the vast Florida sky. We were led back to the small work room, where we watched the rising balloon's progress.

Our next stop was the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF). With Mr. Mike Woolley as our tour guide, we learned many interesting things. One great bit of trivia was that the floor of the Processing Bay broke the world record for being "the most level floor" in the world. Creating a temporary home in the Processing Bay were two Delta Four rockets in the assembly stage of their useful life. Yes. They were big. When the cadets first walked into the Processing Bay, their breath was taken away by the sight, and a look of awe and wonder came over them.

Back to more mundane needs, when Mr. Woolley’s exciting tour was over, we rode to Burger King, ate a nice tasty meal and discussed many topics.

After all of us had boarded the bus, the command was given, "Count off!" We had to make sure that everyone was present and accounted for. Upon arriving shortly at Complex 14, just inside the double doors was a special treat. Ten Air Force lieutenants sat in a neat row, waiting to answer our questions about a career in the Air Force. Cadet First Sergeant Dendrinos commented, "It’s pretty cool to major in something in college, then be assigned to something completely different that what you intended to do -- and still be great at it." With assigned duties varying from Medical to Engineering, these wonderful Ladies and Gentlemen were definitely one of the highlights of the evening.

The International Space Station Director, Russell Romanella, ended the evening with a nice Power Point slideshow of the International Space Station and the Universe. Meeting and speaking with this amazing person was a real pleasure.

The events of the day were busy, very rewarding, and did not disappoint us. We look forward more exciting and wonderful activities in the days to come. (Photos: C/1st Lt. BrandiiRe'Ann Davis and C/1st Lt. Raphael Erie)

C/1st Lt. BrandiiRe'Ann Davis

Day Five

COCOA BEACH, Florida – Another outstanding day has gone by, faster than the  blink of an eye. It's hard to believe that we've been here for five days, and we're over the half-way mark already. The many events we’ve experienced are soon to be just memories. There is a feeling of urgency all about, as we concentrate on cherishing every opportunity given to us in these few days.

The bright and sunny day started at 0615, with a pleasant breakfast that would surely keep us fueled until lunch. From there, we went straight to the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Upon arrival, we met our tour guide, NASA engineer Mr. Glenn Perez, who gave us a wonderful overview of the NASA facilities and processing areas.

This was a long day, full of NASA wonders. After touring the Kennedy Space Center, we went back to Patrick Air Force Base and had dinner at the Riverside Dining Facility. Excited about the day, and happy about our good meal, we went to the 45th Space Wing Conference room to take the daily quiz covering the day’s events.

When asked what he planned to do with the knowledge he had gained today, Cadet First Lieutenant Brian Urbancic said, "The stuff that I found out here is phenomenal. Now I have an idea of what to do when I’m older."

The final event was a briefing from the day's guest speaker, Mr. Jack Fox. He gave a wonderful presentation about NASA’s upcoming Constellation Program.

Day Six

COCOA BEACH, Florida – The last day before graduation was a fulfilling one. It certainly proved to be more relaxed, as we were able to wear our white AFSPC T-shirts with casual dress. But it was just as exciting as the previous days – both staff and students learned a great deal, to be sure.

Despite being tired from the previous day’s events, we all got into the CAP Vans at 0550 to make our way to the Riverside Dining Facility. After an enjoyable breakfast, we went back to the John F. Kennedy Space Center to finish taking our tour from yesterday. Unexpectedly, Col. Christian Moersch, the Florida Wing Commander, accompanied us on our tour. The retrieval of NASA’s equipment was undoubtedly an intriguing subject. We were also fortunate to attend a classroom session with Mr. Lesgold at the NASA Education and Training Center. He captivated everyone with his fascinating footage from the Apollo Landings, plus numerous attention-grabbing activities that explained the fundamentals of Space Exploration.

After the theory, we got a taste of the practical side, when we experienced the thrilling ride of the Shuttle Simulation. This is a mock-up of the Space Shuttle that recreates the illusion of a launch from the perspective of an astronaut.

The following event was the highlight of the day. We were all honored to have lunch with former astronaut Col. John Blaha, USAF Ret. During the meal, Col. Blaha spoke to us about his experiences as a Space Shuttle astronaut. It was really cool when he complimented our efforts as Civil Air Patrol members.

Following lunch, we left the Space Center and went to the Astronaut Hall of Fame. This was a great opportunity to get a really good understanding of the Space Program's history. There we saw many interesting exhibits, as well as an activity area that offered us many fun experiences, such as a G-Force simulator and a Shuttle Landing simulator. Cadet Technical Sergeant Chad Nowak of the Wisconsin Wing said, "It was interesting to learn about the background of all the astronauts, and see what they did to achieve such a prestigious career."

Dinner soon came around, but this one was different. We were given the chance of talking with Command Chief Dennis Vannorsdall, of the 45th Space Wing, and eight senior Non-Commissioned Officers. They gave us much good advice and were very supportive of us. Soon after, we went to the 45th Space Wing Conference Room to take the very last test of the activity! When all tests were complete, our guest speaker, Captain Theo Spanos (who happens to be a former CAP cadet), gave us a very interesting talk about the Space Shuttle program.

Our reward has been very rich. We received a vast amount of knowledge that we'll treasure for a lifetime, and we're grateful for the rare opportunity of being able to glimpse space operations up-close. (Photos: C/1st Lt. BrandiiRe'Ann Davis and C/1st Lt. Raphael Erie)

(C/1st Lt. Raphael Erie)

Day Seven

Day Eight

COCOA BEACH, Florida – The extra hours of sleep and the memory of having graduated the night before were the perfect setting to start the final activity day of the AFSPC-FC. We woke up, grabbed our beachwear, and headed for the van. The first stop was the Riverside Dining Facility for a hot breakfast.

After the morning meal, we loaded back into the van and drove a few blocks to the Banana River. Here we collected oars, life jackets and kayaks for a lot of fun. Within 30 minutes, we were on the river, paddling away. Some of us chose to race, while others preferred to enjoy the little time we would spend on the river before we would have to leave for home. We had been told that we would have two hours on the river, and that didn't seem like much, so we tried to have an adventurous time. Some of us played bumper kayaks, and splashed each other until we were soaking wet. Then, before we realized it, the two hours were over, so we returned our borrowed gear and hopped back into the vans.

Shortly afterwards, we stopped to vacuum out the, leaving them in even better condition than we had found them. Our chore finished, we traveled back to the hotel. We would have free time until 1315, at which time we could play any activity on the hotel complex. When we reported in for the beach party, we were greeted warmly and asked to stand in line for food. By 1345, quite hungry by then, all of us had a plateful of food and a soft drink in our hands.

After lunch, most of us headed to the beach, while others went to the pool, racket ball or tennis courts. We rode the waves, dug our feet in the sand, and found multiple sand dollars along the way. We partied with each other until 1700, when we left for the Star Gazing Observatory. One last opportunity to take yet more knowledge away with us. Here we learned about the stars and their locations.

After stargazing, we loaded up and went back to the hotel for dinner... and much needed rest. We would need it for the trip home. (On day eight, the cadet photographers had been allowed to go on strike - Editor)

(C/1st Lt BrandiiRe'Ann Davis)

Day Nine

COCOA BEACH, Florida – The excitement from the previous week’s events, testing, inspection, briefings, studies, tours and travel, the wonder of America's Space Program, and the many wonderful people that make it work came to a grand finale. The adrenaline that once flowed through our veins now went down to a trickle, as we scrambled to get our luggage together and into the Civil Air Patrol vans.

Everyone scurried around, trying to make sure everything was organized and ready for departure. Some of us left as early as 0600, while others caught a few extra Z’s. The cadets parted company with fond farewells, and some exchanged contact information to stay in touch. We had arrived as strangers, but now were scattering as members of a close family, with many shared memories we would cherish for years to come.

The lucky participating students would like to thank everyone for the support, encouraging us as we advanced through this outstanding and rewarding program. Our expectations were exceeded as many surprises unfolded along the way. On behalf of the Class of 2008, "Thank you for giving us the opportunity of a lifetime. It shall never be forgotten."

(C/1st Lt BrandiiRe'Ann Davis)

Epilogue

This was the first time that the AFSPC-FC (FL) Activity has been recorded and reported by cadets. Both age 16, and both cadet officers, they had prepared themselves for nearly a year to carry out this mission. More than their perfect spelling and impeccable grammar, what I had looked for was their ability to relate to others, to experience consciously all that happened around them, and the courage to tell it all – candidly and from the heart.

Both Cadet PAOs have been published before. They were part of a team of 5 cadets who reported the 2007 Texas Wing Winter Encampment that I was privileged to mentor. Above all, they were eager to do the right thing. And they had a grand time doing it, which showed in their writing. The Texas press embraced their daily articles and published them as a serial. CAP National News Online published them as well. In so doing, a new standard of excellence was created.

It seemed easy to them at the time, since I was never far from them. Questions abounded, and I encouraged them to follow their instincts. They succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Then the AFSPC-FC (FL) opportunity presented itself.

It would be different half a country away in Florida, where they would have to keep a rigorous schedule, take their photos, write their articles, have them approved and sent to me in Austin for final editing and posting to the website. Before going to the Activity, I'd warned them, "If you fall behind just one day, it'll wreck your schedule." The late-night graduation ceremony did that. Relaxing on the beach nailed it shut. And the departure preparations didn't help either. But "duty before self" prevailed, and they wrote their missing articles on their way home, the tender days 7 through 9 presented here.

I am so very proud of them. I am also thankful to the Activity for having made it possible. It's been a real pleasure.

(Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, Editor)