British Royal Air Force cadets visit MacDill

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anna-Marie Wyant
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Twenty British Royal Air Force cadets from Kent County and Sussex County, Great Britain, toured MacDill Friday as part of a two-week educational trip in Florida.

Every year for the past 15 years, RAF cadets have been given the opportunity to come to Florida to volunteer at the Sun n' Fun Air Show in Lakeland, Fla., said Flight Lt. John F. Wohlgemuth, troop commander for the cadets on this trip.

"We call it the U.S. Aviation Experience Camp," Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said. "It's a great opportunity for cadets to broaden their horizons and meet people from all over the U.S. and all over the world. The experience is really international."

Lieutenant Wohlgemuth stressed the fact that this camp is not just sun and games; the cadets worked very hard at the air show. "In the United Kingdom, most people see only one reason to go to Florida, and that's for a vacation, but it's actually quite hard work," he said. "The cadets work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. all week at the air show, and it's the busiest airport in the U.S. that week!"

The high-school cadets volunteered mainly by marshaling in aircraft, Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said. They learn marshaling signals at home and diligently practice using cars to ensure they are ready to safely help pilots park their planes.

This is the second year the organization has visited MacDill. Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said they enjoyed their experiences here last year and this year, and they plan to make it a regular part of the itinerary for future camps.

"It seems like a very nice base," Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said. "It's quite picturesque. I'm sure it's a nice place to be stationed."

Cadet Josie E. Duffy said she agreed with her troop commander.

"We got to see more of the base this year than we did last year," said Cadet Duffy, who is one of three cadets on the trip who also attended the camp last year. "I'm glad we got to come back; it's great here."

Cadet Duffy, who has been a cadet for five years, said she has thoroughly enjoyed here second trip to the U.S. "The Americans are really nice," she said. "It's really fun meeting all the different people and meeting up again with the other air show volunteers we met last year."

Lieutenant Wohlgemeth said the main goal of the RAF cadet program is for recruiting purposes, getting students interested in joining the RAF operationally. In the case of Cadet Duffy, it appears as though this goal will be achieved.

"Most of my family has been in the Air Force or Army," Cadet Duffy said, "and I plan to [enlist] as well. I like to travel quite a bit. I think it's interesting to see all the different places."

In addition to volunteering at the air show and visiting MacDill, cadets are given the opportunity to visit other aviation themed locations such as the Kennedy Space Center in Titusville, Fla., and the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Arcadia, Fla., which is part of both American and British WWII history.

"Twenty-three British airmen are buried there," Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said of the cemetery. "It gives the cadets some history on the Second World War; it's part of their heritage."

Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said this year's camp has been yet another successful educational experience for both the cadets and the chaperones.

"Every year it seems to evolve," he said. "Every year we meet new contacts, and we certainly plan to continue."