JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- 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."