Civil Air Patrol gears up for open house

Members of the Douglas County Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol recently participated in the annual cadet encampment at Camp San Luis Obispo.

Brad Spires was one of the pilots who participated in the annual introduction to Civil Air Patrol for 200 cadets ages 12-18.

Spires said pilots from Minden, South Lake Tahoe and Reno flew Aug. 11 to California.

"It's fun for me," he said. "We took 20 airplanes from California and Nevada. We flew 200 cadet orientation rides on Wednesday (Aug. 12.) For some of those kids, it's their first taste of flying and why they're joining Civil Air Patrol.

"After we land at base, the kids get out and talk about what we've done and why we do it," Spires said.

"One of the neat things about Civil Air Patrol is the kids' ability to fly," he said.

The cadet program at Minden-Tahoe Airport has 15 members, Spires said.

He said three former cadets are attending the service academies, including two at the Air Force Academy and one at the Naval Academy.

The Douglas squadron is hosting a cadet open house Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Civil Air Patrol building adjacent to the airport administration building.

The public is invited.

The Civil Air Patrol is the auxiliary unit of the U.S. Air Force. Capt. Brandon Ford will speak about the Air Force. Cadets are to speak on helping with search and rescue, glider flights, and assisting at air shows.

The mission of the cadet program is to teach military discipline, moral leadership, drill and ceremonies, and customs.

Information, Col. Russ Smith, CAP, 527-2148, rjmbsmith@hotmail.com or visit the Web site at www.nvwg.cap.gov/units/dccs.htm