The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program – is a program for America’s youth to grow and develop leadership skills coupled with knowledge of Aerospace history, principals, and power while striving for a drug free lifestyle.  The program is probably one of the most dynamic youth programs you will ever meet – with Airplane Orientation rides, leadership development obstacle courses, tours of military installations, as well as the daily paperwork involved in today’s government life.  The program is a “Cadet’s” program therefore the leadership of the South Carolina Wing’s Cadet Programs is just that – Cadets.  Working from developing the activities and schedules from your local unit’s weekly meeting, to participating with Group and Wing level events, and focusing your concerns, recommendations, and requests through the Cadet Advisory Council – the Cadet program is driven – by cadets.

If you are a Cadet member of the Civil Air Patrol and are not active – I invite you to become active.  Take a front seat in driving the life of tomorrow.  Participate locally, lead globally.  Here is a recommendation-check list for Cadets:

1. Attend every (possible) meeting at your home unit
2. Step up and request more responsibility – do not hide in the shadows
3. Quickly become active in all 3 elements of the Civil Air Patrol: Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services
4. Sign into the paperless wing and sign up for the Cadet Programs email list serve program – to stay informed of events as they come.
5. Attend Cadet Training Weekends and Encampment as a basic cadet early in your Cadet Career, and then return often as Advanced Cadet and Staff Cadet.
6. Attend other Group, Wing, and Region activities as often as you can
7. Attend National Cadet Special Activities – early and often
8. Return from these activities and use your new found education and training rapidly to be of service to your community, state, and nation (and your home unit).

If you are a parent of a Civil Air Patrol cadet, I recommend the following:

1. Let your child work their way through the program
2. Encourage their participation weekly at the unit events and at Group, Wing, Region events as they come up…
3. Let your child attain information on their own
4. Give them time to fight their own battles
5. Know that failure is sometimes the best way to learn

If you are a new Senior Member to the Civil Air Patrol or simply new to the Cadet Programs; remember this is a program about them – the Cadets.  Let them be aggressively active in planning, teaching, and conducting the local meetings.  Do not be so aggressive to jump in and correct thing (unless it’s a safety concern – physiological or psychological) they make take a few extra steps to address problems, but they will get to them – have a little faith.

Last but not least – know my door is always open for questions, concerns, or anything…

Thanks for making this program what it is: the CADET PROGRAM

Sincerely,

Chris Peterson, Maj. CAP
Director of Cadet Programs
South Carolina Wing