Civil Air Patrol Cadets From 35 States Gather in Alabama for College-level Leadership training
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Officer School, one of the top professional development opportunities available to America’s youth, will be in session beginning Tuesday in Alabama.
Maxwell Air Force Base, the site of CAP National Headquarters, is also the home of Air University and professional military education for the U.S. Air Force, making it the ideal venue to develop the leadership skills of CAP’s top cadets. Participation in Cadet Officer School, or COS, is a top choice for CAP cadets from across the nation because of the rigorous academic curriculum and caliber of instruction offered by the Air Force and CAP officers. Only the top 15 percent of all CAP cadets are accepted to attend.
This year, 123 cadets from 35 states are participating in the 10-day, college-level course.
“This is a premier leadership opportunity that can help propel our cadets to exciting careers in both the military and the private sector,” said Lt. Col. Rajesh Kothari, the activity’s director.
Patterned after Air Force Squadron Officer College, COS is an academically challenging program combining lectures, seminars and hands-on training designed to develop cadets’ broader understanding of leadership as a discipline. Throughout the week the cadets participate in a variety of lectures and supporting discussions to explore leadership topics. They practice what they learn through a series of comprehensive writing and speaking assignments, culminating with graduation ceremonies on Aug. 7.
“Cadet Officer School helps build our nation’s leaders of tomorrow,” said Kothari. “Our cadets gain confidence and experience as they expand their skills. They enhance the ability and skills work with others. When they leave COS, they are better prepared to serve as leaders in their units, schools and communities.”
Throughout its 72-year-old history, CAP’s cadet program has built strong citizens for the future by providing leadership training, technical education, scholarships and career education to young men and women ages 12 to 20.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 60,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs about 85 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 70 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 25,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. Performing missions for America for over 70 years, CAP will receive the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com, www.capvolunteernow.com and www.capgoldmedal.com for more information.
