MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (January 05, 2019)—The 927th Air Refueling Wing here, hosted a refueling mission for more than a dozen Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol Cadets from different squadrons across the Tampa Bay area on January 05 to experience MacDill AFB.
The Civil Air Patrol program allows young people to experience military life and go through a 16-step program that they are able to progress at their own pace which includes aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership.
On arrival here, the cadets were greeted by Col. Doug Stouffer, 927th Air Refueling Wing commander, who gave a presentation about the mission, aircrafts, and history here at MacDill AFB.
“My first flying experience was with the Civil Air Patrol glider program when I was 14-years old,” said Col. Mike “Tiger” Greiger, former CAP-USAF Southeast Region Liaison. “Through the Civil Air Patrol program I was able to enlist as an E-3 in the Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol influenced my entire Air Force career of 36 years.”
The group of cadets who visited MacDill AFB ranged from ages 12 to 17, many who have been in the program for two to three years and this was their first military flight. The CAP program accepts young people from 12 years through age 21.
“Being able to go down and watch the job of a boom operator was such an amazing experience,” said Cadet Tech. Sergeant Barbara vonKlock, Element Leader and Public Affairs Officer. “It’s not every day you get the chance to see an A-10 let alone being refueled.”
The CAP group was split into two groups, allowing an ample amount of time for everyone to go down by the boom operator and watch the A-10 flying and being refueled.
Being able to sit and take photos down by the boom is what is most memorable for these cadets. Hosting missions like this increase awareness of how the Air Force Reserve contributes to the total force and the importance of the 927th Refueling Wing to the local economy along with allowing young people to experience hands-on military life.