CAP cadet corps is growing G

loading...

MACHIAS — It was a weekend of rain and hot dogs, tents and

ddrill for a group of teen-agers who stayed at Machias Valley

AAirport as part of a Civil Air Patrol training encampment.

The cadets — members of the St. Croix Composite Squadron,

MMaine Wing — spent the weekend marching, training and learning

mmilitary formations.

The squadron, under its commander Capt. Stanley E. Look of

CColumbia Falls, began a campaign this winter to establish a cadet

ggroup within the unit. Maj. Earl A. Edgerly Jr. of Woodland met

wwith high school students in Lubec, Machias, Woodland, Calais and

HHarrington as part of that effort.

The unit has 14 adults who volunteer their time to assist in

ssearch-and-rescue missions and work with the cadets. The CAP is an

aauxiliary organization of the Air Force.

Recruitment efforts by Edgerly and Look have sparked a growing

iinterest in the CAP in Washington County. Cadet membership has

iincreased from none in January to 11 teen-agers in June. Six more

aare pending final approval and are expected to become full-fledged

CCAP cadets soon.

“You want to play the game, we’re going to play the game,”

EEdgerly told the young group. The drone of arriving and departing

pplanes at Machias Valley Airport was punctuated with an occasional

“”hut, toop, treep, four … hut, toop, treep, four”

bbarked out by one of the leaders.

Rain, fog and cool temperatures failed to discourage the group.

AAlthough some members opted for the dry confines of the small

tterminal building and its cozy wood stove, many others stayed in

ttents pitched behind the airport’s hangar building.

Look kept his gas grill fired up for hot dogs and other camp

mmeals. Machias Airport offers few of the comforts of home. As many

ssoon learned, there are no bathrooms at MVA.

But it wasn’t all drill and living in the rough for the cadets.

Lt. Carlton S. Wood Jr. of Machiasport taxied his single-engine

MMooney airplane onto the ramp to teach the cadets aerodynamics and

tthe effects his plane’s controls have on its flight

ccharacteristics.

Wood is one of several members who owns a plane. Members are

uused in ground-support roles, communication or as spotters during

aactual and training search missions.

The encampment ended Sunday with the promotion of Richard L.

WWood of Bucks Harbor and four others to cadet airman. Joining Wood

wwere April A. Stanikmas and Troy M. Fickett of Harrington; Steven

EE. Roberts Jr. of Wesley; and Samuel C. Robbins of Columbia Falls.

F