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CAP Cadets Experience the Blackhawk

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33 Cadets and senior members from the Civil Air Patrol pose on the flight-line with their North Carolina Army National Guard flight crew prior to their 30-minute orientation flight with members of the 131st Aviation Regiment,1st Battalion, C-Company at the Salisbury Army National Guard Aviation facility. Photo Credit: 2d Lt Patrick Schneider, CAP (click image to view full size)
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N.C. Army National Guard flies CAP members in UH-60 Helicopter

By 1st Lt H.J. Bentley III, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, Charlotte Senior Squadron

10/26/2017–SALISBURY, NC–33 cadets and senior members from four different North Carolina Wing squadrons got a unique opportunity to fly with the North Carolina Army National Guard and experience the UH-60 Blackhawk first hand.

Set up by C/2d Lt Dylan Gulla, cadets from the 111th Search and Rescue Squadron and three other squadrons enjoyed a 30-minute orientation flight from members of the 131st Aviation Regiment, 1st Battalion, C-Company at the Salisbury Army National Guard Aviation facility.
 
Pilots CWO-2 Joe Elmore and Shane Glass gave the cadets a behind-the-scenes tour of the National Guard facility which culminated in a 30-minute orientation flight of the UH-60 Blackhawk.
 
“It isn’t every day you get a chance to fly in something like this!” said C/Capt Mason Burger, cadet commander of the 111th Search and Rescue squadron. “It was an awesome opportunity that I got to share with my fellow cadets because of Civil Air Patrol.”
 
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane Glass was also a member of Civil Air Patrol prior to joining the National Guard. “CAP helped put me on the path to aviation,” said Glass. “I wasn’t in that long but CAP helped point me in the right direction all those years ago.”
 
Today, through its cadet program, CAP builds strong citizens for the future by providing leadership training, technical education, scholarships and career education to young men and women ages 12 to 20. While serving in roles such as supporting community aviation activities as the Air Force Auxiliary, it is now recognized as a crucial element of the Total Force. This recognition promotes Air Force-wide awareness of CAP’s existence, value, and contribution as a credible force multiplier and a welcomed partner in accomplishing the Air Force’s missions and programs.