VINEMONT —
A lot of people probably haven’t heard of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol (CAP). Even if they have, they may not know much about it.
“There was a unit here in Cullman for a while, and then it kind of just went away," said Cullman CAP squadron second lieutenant Tamara Maddux Friday. "We started this one back up two years ago, and we’re gradually growing."
Until recently, Cullman County’s squadron of the CAP — the U.S. Air Force’s official, nonprofit civilian auxiliary unit — had lain dormant, following an active run that ended in the 1990s.
But, thanks to the efforts of some local aviators and community-minded folks with a love of flying, the resurgent 17-member Cullman CAP is growing, filling its home base at Cullman’s Folsom Field with activity as it carries out its three-part mission.
One aspect of that mission — emergency services — will keep the airport buzzing today, when CAP squadrons from both Cullman and throughout the region will meet to carry out an array of exercises intended to sharpen members’ search-and-rescue skills. Members will likely get plenty of training in another of CAP’s primary missions: aerospace education.
“That is one of our core missions: to teach these kids about how flight actually works,” said Maddux. “If you ask a kid, ‘How does a model rocket fly?’ they’ll sometimes answer, ‘It just goes.’ Well, that’s what we work on — we get down to the nuts and bolts, and pull that engine apart, and explain, ‘This is what happens.’ So, there’s more to us than just going out and looking for an aircraft or doing search and rescue.”
While today’s exercises are intended for CAP members, the Cullman squadron is looking to add new faces, particularly young people, to its ranks. Involving young people ages 12 to 18, who participate in the CAP as Cadets, ensures the organization maintains a strong presence in the communities where it’s set down roots.
In fact, the CAP’s third and, perhaps, most important mission revolves around cultivating membership from an early age under the CAP ‘Cadet program,’ begun during WWII as a pilot training effort and continued through the present to develop leadership and career skills.
“Absolutely, we want members,” said Maddux. “We want as many people exposed to the Civil Air Patrol as possible. "You don’t have to be a pilot — as you can see, we have Cadets who are just starting down the path. It takes all kinds of people to do what we do, as long as you’re interested in aviation and in serving the community.”
To join, or to learn more about the Cullman CAP, visit www.facebook.com/CullmanCAP to make contact with the local squadron’s organizers, or just drop by one of the weekly meetings.
The Cullman Civil Air Patrol — AL 134 squadron meets at the airport on the second, third and fourth Thursday evening of each month at 6:30 p.m., and at the Hanceville Recreation and Wellness Center (where Cadets go through physical training exercises) at the same time on the first Thursday of each month.
* Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
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Related Photos
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Cadets Brian Scott, left, and David Wheeler will join local and regional members of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol today in emergency response training maneuvers today as CAP members from across the state converge on Folsom Field. BENJAMIN BULLARD
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Civil Air Patrol taking flight in Cullman
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