Young Cadets Get A Head Start On Their Future

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s a weekend full of training for some cadets in the Golden Triangle.

For teens in Civil Air Patrol, it’s a unique opportunity to get real experience that can jump-start  their future careers.

Imagine being a teenager and knowing how to save a life in an emergency situation.

That’s why these Civil Air Patrol cadets are taking their Saturday to become CPR and first aid certified.

“Civil Air Patrol covers 90% in land ground search and rescue missions. So, it’s important to have cadets trained to be able to respond to an emergency, like a plane crash,” said Cadet Technical Sergeant Michael Pounders.

The cadets are training to be ready to respond in times of severe weather, if a plane goes down or to help find someone missing.

For some of the teens, it’s a way to get a leg up on their future.

“I’ve always loved flying and I want to go to the military when I get older, so CAP just seemed to be the real deal. Right now, I’m learning how to fly and I’m doing it cheaper than anywhere else, so it’s really legit and it’s what I was looking for and it’s given me a lot of experience,” said Cadet Master Sergeant William Yingst.

“I want to become an Air Force pilot and I figured this would give great training to be an Air Force Pilot,” said Cadet Airman 1st Class Ethan Alsup.

The CPR and first aid training class is just the start of the weekend for the cadets.

They will embark on an overnight expedition to do ground training used in real life situations.

Leaders of the group say although it’s not a military training program, cadets who want to join the military can do so with a higher ranking.

“Several achievements as you go through as a cadet and one of those is the Mitchell Award. Basically, that’s the equivalent of becoming a Cadet Lieutenant. The military recognizes that just as they would become an Eagle Scout for the Boys Scouts. If you enlist, you automatically receive the rank of E-3 and they recognize that you’ve received some additional training your peers may not have,” said Deputy Activity Officer Dustin Prosser.

Training that could give these young cadets a bright future.

There will be an open house for those interested in the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program on Thursday, April 30th, at 6:30 at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, hangar M.