Submitted by: C/CMSGT Jared Buniel

Its 5:30 AM, October 31st, 2009, Halloween Saturday, most teenagers would be sound asleep, dreaming of their plans for acquiring candy or a final touch for their scary costume. But a group of wide-awake and chilled young men and women are at McCrady training center, their candy taken from them and their dreams drowned out by shouted commands and banging lockers. As stern officers herd the teens outside for exercise, a passer-by would be right in wondering, “Who are these kids who gave up their holiday weekend for this ‘boot camp-like’ experience?” To find an answer, you need look no further than the blue patches on their camouflage, “Civil Air Patrol.”

My name is Jared Buniel. As a Cadet Chief Master Sergeant of the Civil Air Patrol’s South Carolina Wing, I have been given the honor of chronicling the events of the fall 2009 Cadet Training Weekend (CTW). Our story actually began on the night of October 30 as the cadets climbed out of their vans, they were greeted with harsh shouts and brought into line. As the “Basics” waited to turn in their papers and have their bags searched, various sergeants and officers prowled among them, correcting verbally but zealously on any who made mistakes or diverted from the position they were in. The frequent loud commands and correction seem harsh and senseless at first glance, but the intent is noble on all counts. By teaching the cadets to think and act under pressure and as a team, they gain skills useful not just in the military, but in everyday life.

After an intense session of drill, the cadets enjoyed a hearty meal of hot dogs, beans, and coleslaw, then got a good night’s sleep. The cadet staff had a meeting to iron out the next day’s details, then turned in for their own rest. Seven hours later, the cadets endured the somewhat rude awakening detailed above, then took part in a short but challenging session of Physical Training (PT). Before the sun had risen, the cadets were done with PT and back in their barracks, putting on their uniforms for morning formation. The planned events for the day went quickly. The cadets went through constant drill to teach teamwork, discipline, and listening skills; balanced by classes on Customs & Courtesies and Dress & Personal Appearance. During these classes, chosen officers would give a short talk, then the cadets would compete to prepare and perform the best skit on their favorite aspect of that subject.

A pan pizza lunch came next, followed by “Flight Time”, where the “Flights” (somewhat like Platoons or Squads), work together on maintaining their uniforms, smoothing out their drill, or taking care of any other issues. As I watched from my concrete seat, the heat seemed to intensify as the sun glared down on the pavement and grass drill pad. Tempers flared and mistakes were made as everyone’s energy began to wane, yet the real test of the cadets’ abilities was still to come. At 1430 (2:30 PM), the flights gathered for the long-anticipated Drill Competition. Each flight was given a chance to show how well they’d learned by carrying out a set of drill movements while staying within certain boundaries. This event tested not only the Basics, but their leaders as well. After the contest and a surprise drill performance from the staff, we changed into PT clothes again for sports.

The sport events were a chance for the cadets to loosen up and have fun, while competing with the other flights for domination. The relays, ultimate Frisbee, and capture the flag went on for a couple of hours, until the flight commanders and sergeants marched their weary cadets back for evening formation, then dinner. Dinner was spaghetti, a homemade recipe by 2nd Lieutenant Olga Buniel (who happens to be my mom). This was followed by practice for the ornate closing ceremony that would be held on Sunday, and then the cadets got to enjoy snacks and music in a short party. As the music died down and the staff tidied the dining hall, the basics cleaned up on their last night at CTW.

The cadets received an extra hour’s sleep thanks to Daylight Savings Time, but they soon worked it off in a special PT session held in their barracks due to rain. Once the exercises were done, both staff and basics began the process of preparing the barracks and dining hall for return to the base and packing their various belongings. Once finished, everyone moved to the drill pad, where the Advanced Training Flight and Support Staff, including myself, had a short drill competition. We passed the time waiting for parents to arrive with some team-building exercises, until the clock struck noon. With each flight arrayed in one last formation, the Cadet Commander, Cadet Captain Jamal Suber, and his staff reviewed their command and congratulated the Honor Cadet, Honor Staff Member, Honor Flight and Sports Flight. Finally, Captain Suber thanked all who had given up this weekend to better themselves, assured them that their efforts would pay off in the long run, and released the cadets to their waiting families and squadrons.