CIVIL AIR PATROL

TAKES LEARNING TO NEW HEIGHTS.

The Civil Air Patrol has been a well-respected program since its founding in 1941, so Riverside was pleased to officially offer the program to cadets starting in August 2022. Riverside has seen strong participation in the Civil Air Patrol Squadron during its first year with the involvement of 20 middle and high school cadets. Every student at Riverside has the opportunity to join the program and participate in hands-on experiences that truly take learning to new heights.

Members of the Civil Air Patrol program at Riverside experience everything that a typical JROTC cadet experiences and more.. During their time in the program, cadets are not only trained in aerospace history and leadership but also get to ride in the cockpit in five powered flights and five glider flights. Cadets can even be involved in Ground Team events, such as partnering with The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to operate radios during natural disaster relief.

Perhaps one of the most exciting additions to Riverside’s Civil Air Patrol program is the addition of an advanced Redbird flight simulator. The simulator offers cadets the opportunity to virtually fly a Cessna 172 or Cessna 182 aircraft, which helps to prepare them for their orientation flights. Using the simulator allows cadets to learn the basics of a plane’s cockpit and adapt to different technical difficulties or environmental elements that could affect the flight.

Experiential learning and mentorship go hand-in-hand in the Civil Air Patrol. Cadets learn followership as they are guided by their adult leaders, including Maj Brian Johnston (Squadron Commander), Lt Col Robert Powers (Vice Wing Commander for the Georgia Wing), Senior Officer Harrison Clark, Maj Ken Andrus, and Lt Paul Shires. These adult leaders train cadets in the four core values of the Civil Air Patrol: integrity, volunteer service, excellence, and respect. As the cadets advance in rank, they take on more responsibility.

Opportunities to Advance

Cadets Brady Kriegel, Manuel Jimenez, and Andrey Ponko were recently promoted to Staff Sergeant after being awarded the Wright Brothers award. This honor is awarded to cadets who score 80% or higher on a challenging closed-book test covering leadership and performance in drill and ceremonies. According to Cadet Kriegel, “The test covered components of leadership, and since I’ve been at Riverside, I was well-prepared.” As cadets advance in rank, they must complete a series of written tests, physical training, research, and oral presentations.

Cadets who advance to Second Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol are often awarded scholarships by service academies, and cadets who enlist in the U.S. Army or U.S. Air Force after graduation are able to start their service at a higher rank. Squadron Commander Brian Johnston said, “Involvement in the Civil Air Patrol sets cadets apart and opens up opportunities for them to earn scholarships and serve their country.” Both the leadership and cadets look forward to continuing to build the program at Riverside.