Young people interested in learning aeronautics, emergency services, and leadership skills are invited to join the Civil Air Patrol.

The Mesa Verde cadet squadron recently secured a regular meeting place at the K-9 Search and Rescue building in Dolores.

"Thanks to K-9 donating this space for us, we are in a stronger position to take on a larger group," said Deb Archer, an air patrol CAP major. "We offer something different than ag-based groups or Boy Scouts."

Civil Air Patrol is an auxiliary group of the U.S. Air Force, but it's not a recruitment program, Archer said. The local squadron has 14 active cadets, and meets every Tuesday night for two hours of instruction.

"We teach discipline, marching drills, aeronautics, aerospace, and team building," she said. "It is good training to go into the military, but that is not a requirement at all."

Exposure to free flight training is a major benefit of the Civil Air Patrol. Two or three times per year, depending on the budget, students accompany professional pilots on practice missions, and even take the controls.

"We don't take off or land," said cadet commander Kaleb Todd, 17. "But the CAP gives significant opportunity to learn aeronautics and get into the air and fly. It is part of our achievements."

Students who have earned it fly in a Cessna 206 based at the Cortez airport. The plane is used for rescue missions by CAP professional pilots. Nationwide, 95 percent of downed aircraft are searched by CAP planes.

"The flying and training has sparked my interest in the joining the Marine Corps," said Brendan Todd, 15, a cadet captain. "It teaches discipline and how to focus on a difficult task."

The local CAP tours regional military bases and meets with aerospace engineers.

"We learned about rocket science from Space Command at Lockheed Martin. The amount of high-level math that goes into these missions is mind-blowing," Kaleb Todd said. "A two-star general talked to us on the principals of leadership, what it takes to be successful."

At a recent regular meeting, cadets practiced drills, took exams and quizzed one another on basic aeronautics and features of a model plane. What a magneto does and the location of the horizontal stabilizer were answered, but students were stumped on what cartography means.

Educator and pilot Ranee Larick passed out flight maps, and explained what it is like to fly into a major airport. He presented research on military drones, stating they are the future of aerial combat.

"A pilot can handle nine Gs, while an unmanned fighter jet can handle 20 Gs and can get on the inside track of enemy aircraft to shoot it down," he said.

He shared his research on the latest consumer drones, and gave background on the FFA's ongoing efforts to regulate them.

"Flying models provides good skills are a good intro into a career track of unmanned aerial vehicles," Larick said.

CAP cadets are issued camouflaged uniforms and earn badges for various accomplishments in aeronautics, physics, science, marching drills, and leadership. Annual fees are very reasonable.

"It's not hard, we march in a lot of parades, get to fly and learn about planes," said Sgt. Colton Shaffer, 13.

Vinton Vicenti, 16, a Ute Mountain Ute from Towaoc, said his four years in CAP gave him a career focus.

"My plan is to be a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps," he said. "I feel like I have a good head start."

To become a CAP member, you must be at least 12 years old and first attend three meetings in a row. For more information contact Deb at (970) 759-5669.

jmimiaga@cortezjournal.com