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433rd Airlift Wing hosts Civil Air Patrol cadets

  • Published
  • By Minnie Jones
  • 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Fifteen Civil Air Patrol cadets from the Lackland Cadet Squadron visited the 433rd Airlift Wing July 18 to experience flying in a C-5 simulator here

“This is the unit’s fourth annual event with the 433rd Airlift Wing, which has become a tradition for the Texas CAP,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Van De Walle, 433rd Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation chief. “Everyone, including pilots and contractors enjoyed the camaraderie through shared stories, and learning about each other's mission and goals.” 

Founded on Dec. 1, 1941 and congressionally chartered in 1948, the Civil Air Patrol is a congressional charted, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force.

Its mission is to support America’s communities with emergency response, diverse aviation and ground services, youth development and promotion of air, space and cyber power. It performs services for the federal government as the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and for states/local communities as a nonprofit organization.  

“CAP is part of the total force,” said CAP Lt. Col. William Blanchette, “On this trip we are exposing them (cadets) to aviation and aerospace, so that they may be interested in going into the Air Force. Today, they are getting a taste of a day and life of a pilot."