Florida Civil Air Patrol cadets visit MacDill

  • Published
  • By Capt. Shane Huff
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, FLA. --  Ten Civil Air Patrol cadets and four senior members from the Naples Cadet Squadron toured a KC-135R Stratotanker at MacDill Air Force Base today.  The purpose of their visit was to expose cadets to an Air Force base and to see a KC-135 up close.

Members of the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 91st Air Refueling Squadron gave cadets a tour of the static tanker and shared information on its operational capability as well as life in the military.

"The KC-135 holds approximately 31,000 gallons of JP8 fuel," said Airman First Class James Miller, a crew chief with the 6th AMXS. 

Airman First Class Adam Rogers, also a 6th AMXS crew chief, said the hardest part of his job was making the aircraft, which are more than 50 years old, fully mission capable.  

The cadets stayed at the MacDill Family Camp overnight and used the base gym, dining facility and bowling alley as part of their immersion into life on a military installation.

"This was a good thing because alot of them are looking at the military as a career," said cadet instructor Lt. Col Robert Kantor. "The cadets enjoyed it, and were encouraged to consider joining the Air Force."

Cadets must be 12-18 years old.  They meet two hours per week and one Saturday per month and have opportunities to attend leadership encampments, career academies and international exchanges during the summer. Cadet Captain Mitchell Campbell recieved a scholarship through the CAP and gained his private pilots license as a result.  He explained the three main missions of CAP as: Aerospace educators, emergency services and cadet programs. Cadet Captain Campbell said CAP is highly involved with search and rescue, missing persons, and disaster relief missions.  He said he has personal CAP experience in providing disaster relief to Hurricane Charley victims.

For further information regarding the Civil Air Patrol visit: http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/html/index.htm