Civil Air Patrol cadets meet America's space program

   (Tomorrow's leaders experience the USAF Space Command Familiarization Course)

by Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate, CAP

PATRICK AFB, Fla -- On 26 July 2008, 26 Civil Air Patrol cadets from 11 states will arrive at Orlando, Florida for nine days of intensive and exciting instruction on America's involvement with space exploration. Sponsored by the 45th Space Wing in Patrick AFB and the Civil Air Patrol/USAF Liaison Office, the program is run by the Civil Air Patrol, offering an inside view of America's space program to Civil Air Patrol cadets selected from among many applicants across the United States. Since the available facilities and supervisory personnel are a limiting factor, maximum class size may not exceed 27 students.

Much of the instruction will take place at Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Since 1995, this event has run once-yearly, but this year it will be slightly different. Given that many cadets have demonstrated an interest in writing about what they do, as well as chronicling the Civil Air Patrol in general, the program decided to add two cadets with a proven publishing record as Cadet Public Affairs Officers (C/PAOs).

All students will get an in-depth look at the 45th Space Wing's involvement with NASA, and how the USAF conducts rocket launching operations. In addition, personal contact with astronauts, technical personnel, and USAF experts will give the cadets an overview of the space program at America's premier rocket launching station. Simultaneously, the C/PAOs will take photographs, interview selected presentors, instructors and their own classmates, and describe the activity and the cadets' own reaction to it.

The 45th Space Wing's Public Affairs Officer will also mentor the C/PAOs, who will "shadow" him as he explains how the USAF runs its information tasking duties. The hands-on experience of being in a complex environment, working under the direction of Air Force and NASA advisors, will be new to the C/PAOs, who until now have only reported on typical CAP cadet activities.

A challenge the C/PAOs are well equipped to meet will be the preparation of a short slide/video/sound presentation covering the event, to be shown at the graduation dinner. They've done this before, with excellent results, in a less complex environment. In some cases, cadet work has proven more effective than professional practitioners', since the cadets can bring a fresh eye to bear that charms the viewer, and they aren't afraid of using good-natured humor.

Every year, the activity's graduates freely praise the time spent at Orlando, after having greatly enjoyed "the show." This year, they themselves will be part of the show, and will get a chance to have their collective voice heard. The C/PAOs plan on writing an article a day, which will be posted on the activity's website on the News page http://www.afspc.org/afspc/content/news.asp

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Captain Arthur E. Woodgate is the Director of Public Affairs, Southwest Region, Civil Air Patrol. He is also the Public Affairs Officer and webmaster for the activity.