PHILIPSBURG – Three local Civil Air Patrol cadets recently received promotions at Mid-State Flight 239.
Cadets Steven Lazar and Tyler Bartley were awarded their first promotions to the grade of cadet airman. This first promotion opens the doors to participation in CAP activities including powered orientation flights, glider orientation flights, participation in search and rescue missions, summer encampments and more.
Cadet John Smith was promoted to the highest NCO grade in Civil Air Patrol, cadet chief master sergeant. Smith is the cadet commander of Mid-State Flight 239 and has been an active member of CAP for three years.
In that time frame, he has participated on numerous search missions, encampments and orientation flights.
All three cadets had to complete various levels of leadership, drill and physical fitness testing to be eligible for their promotion.
Mid-State Flight 239 is based at Mid-State Regional Airport near Philipsburg. Weekly meetings rotate through a schedule of drill, leadership, aerospace education, moral leadership, and emergency services training. An upcoming training exercise is planned with two other Centre County CAP units that will focus on radio communications and electronic direction finding used in locating downed aircraft.
Civil Air Patrol performs 95 percent of all inland search and rescue missions as assigned by the United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. These missions include missing aircraft and missing person searches. Opportunities exists for cadets, ages 12-18, and for CAP senior members, ages 18 and above. For more information on Civil Air Patrol contact 1st Lt. Justin Ogden, commander of Mid-State Flight 239,
at 762-8024 Or visit the Mid-State 239 Web site.
