Glider Academy underway with Sq. 11 cadet

Palm Springs Sq. 11 Cadet 1Lt Ashley Mayo is one of 24 cadets currently in Rome, Georgia attending the National Flight Academy, Glider program. The Rome News-Tribune newspaper today ran two articles featuring the academy. NFA-G Rome is Mayo's second National Flight Academy. She graduated from NFA-G in Colorado where she earned Cadet Pre-Solo Wings in 2009. Cadets attending glider academy for a second year may have the opportunity to solo.

Glider Academy Under Way at Airport by Daniel Bell, Staff Writer
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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The 24 Civil Air Patrol cadets participating in the National Flight Academy glider training at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport aren’t simply going up there and floating around, said retired Air Force Major Gen. George Harrison, one of the instructors and former director of the program.

There is a lot of classroom work, homework, and prerequisite work too, and that’s assuming one is even accepted into the program. About 150 people applied for the academy in Rome, one of only three such training programs in the country.

“You can imagine a 14-year-old trying to fly an airplane using trigonometry. It’s kind of tough,” said Harrison.

Woodrow Shepherd, the Southeast Regional Glider activity director, said the cadets, ranging from 14 to 17 years old, have to do a lot of reading before arriving in Rome, and then have to do a lot more reading once they’re here. They start with flights early in the morning, he said, then hit the classroom, then more flying, then more coursework.

Those cadets who are participating in their second academy will have the chance to fly solo before the week’s end, and the really advanced students may even earn a glider license and be able to take up passengers.

The cadets come from as far away as California and Maryland, as do the instructors and some of the equipment, because Rome’s academy is the best, said Shepherd. He attributed the success of the program to airport officials for working so hard, to Berry College for providing a great place to stay and eat, and to the quality of instruction.

The point of the academy, explained Harrison, is to stress the importance of leadership and education and to either fuel or ignite a love of flight.

“What I really care about is if they get turned on by science, if they get turned on by technology, and if they do something with their lives,” he said.

The academy continues at the airport and in the skies above Armuchee through next week and will wrap up Friday with a banquet at Berry College.

Read more:

Airport Glider Academy Starts Today by Kim Sloan, Staff Writer
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Sq. 59 Cadet Solos at Flight Academy

Congratulations to C/2Lt Elisabeth Loyd of Hemet-Ryan Composite Sq. 59 who soloed early this week during the National Flight Academy - Powered Track in Nebraska!

Group 3 is now two-for-two with solos at this National Cadet Special Activity. On Monday, June 27, C/CMSgt Megan Roberson of Palm Springs Composite Sq. 11 also earned her solo wings at NFA-P Nebraska.

Group 3's two newest pilots return from the Academy on Thursday, June 30. Wish them clear skies and safe flying when you see them next.

Sq. 11 Cadet Solos at National Flight Academy

Congratulations to C/CMSgt Megan Roberson of Palm Springs Composite Sq. 11 who soloed on Monday, June 27, 2011 during the National Flight Academy - Powered Track in Nebraska! Way to go, Chief!

Group 3 Cadets aim high at National Flight Academy

(16 JUNE, LINCOLN, Neb.) – Cadet 2^nd Lt. Elisabeth Loyd of Hemet-Ryan Composite Sq. 59 and Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Megan Roberson of Palm Springs Composite Sq. 11 will learn more about flying powered aircraft this week at Civil Air Patrol’s National Flight Academy to be held June 16-30 in Camp Ashland, Neb.

The flight academy is specifically designed for cadets who want to learn to fly. Participants receive formal ground instruction and cockpit time with a certified flight instructor; the low instructor-to-student ratio provides opportunities for mentoring and individual attention. NFA also provides many participants the opportunity to solo.

The academy is one of 30 National Cadet Special Activities sponsored by CAP this summer. These activities allow cadets to hone their skills in a variety of areas – including search and rescue, flight and emergency services, science, leadership fundamentals, citizenship and military courtesies – and to explore aerospace technology and aviation careers.

Through its cadet program, CAP builds strong citizens for the future by providing leadership training, technical education, scholarships and career education to young men and women ages 12 to 20.

Cadet Loyd joined CAP in April 2008 and graduated from the California Wing Cadet Basic Encampment at Camp San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, Calif. later that year, in August. Cadet Loyd is an active participant in CAP and has staffed multiple airshows and represented her unit at the Inland Empire Group 3 Cadet Color Guard Competition held in February 2011. She earned the unit’s prestigious Gen. Billy Mitchell Award in May 2011, signifying completion of Phase II of the CAP cadet program. Only 15% of cadets reach this milestone.

Cadet Roberson joined CAP in September 2009. In less than two years of membership, she has served her unit as both Flight Sergeant and most recently as First Sergeant. She is a 2010 graduate of the California/Nevada Wing Joint Encampment held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near Oceanside, Calif. Her personal decorations include the CAP Model Rocketry Badge and Veterans of Foreign Wars Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year Award. She is a two-time recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award – Gold presented by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.

Both cadets have seen squadron members graduate from the Nebraska-based National Flight Academy program over the last two years. In 2009, Cadet 1st Lt. Leandra Lee of Palm Springs Composite Sq. 11 earned her solo wings at the academy. Hemet-Ryan Composite Sq. 59's Cadet 1st Lt. Bryan Gooch graduated from the academy last year.

To be eligible to apply for a National Cadet Special Activity (NCSA) such as National Flight Academy, cadets must be graduates of the week-long cadet basic encampment training program. National Activities are announced in November each year and applications are due in January. Much like college, cadets wait until March each year to find out if they were selected for a program. Selections are based on four factors including age, milestone awards achieved, years in the organization, and number of NCSAs previously attended.

-Capt. Crystal Housman

PAO, Inland Empire Group 3