Civil Air Patrol valuable to N.D., youth

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The North Dakota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol is there for our state when we need assistance and at the same time it gives back to youth by teaching valuable skills.

All 50 states have a CAP whose main duties are to assist the Air Force with jobs for a fraction of the cost. These jobs include search and rescue, in the air and on the ground, and aerial reconnaissance during natural disasters.

In North Dakota CAP has members ranging from teenagers to 50-year veterans. We hope the program continues to grow and inspire more youth.

Teenagers interested in aviation can get a serious leg up by volunteering as a cadet with CAP. Not only do they learn about military customs and courtesies, but also aerospace education and history of flight. Physical fitness is emphasized as well.

One cadet summed it up as learning integrity and leadership.

While cadets do get some flying hours, they mostly learn about procedures from the ground. Part of that is completing ground search and rescue missions.

Recently when North Dakota’s CAP was re-evaluated by the Air Force to make sure procedures were up to snuff, the cadet program and seasoned CAP veterans proved successful more than once at the exercises.

It’s important to support CAP as it provides critical resources for people through searches in the air and on the ground. We feel honored having these men and women who graciously give their time to help others in need.

(Editorials are the opinion of Jamestown Sun management and the newspaper’s editorial board)

Tags: opinion, editorials, cap