The Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol Cadet program is open to Males and Females between the ages of 12 and 18 years, with the cadets able to remain in the cadet program until age 21.  The Cadet program is dedicated to Aerospace Education, Leadership, Moral Leadership, and Drug Demand Reduction.  Cadets are able to participate at Encampments held locally and nationally such as Space Command (Cape Kennedy - Patrick AFB, FL or NORAD - Peterson AFB, CO), National Blue Beret (flght line marshaling for Oshkosh, WI yearly air show), Glider School (Rome & Monroe, GA), Hawk Mountain Ranger School (mountain search & rescue training, PA) and others including Powered Flight Academy, National Band, Weather School, Ground Search & Rescue School, just to name a few.  Please view the national Cadet Great Start and our "Video Pages" to view videos from many of the Cadet Activities. A summer Encampment is held each year in Georgia (Ft. Stewart in 2009, Ft. Gordon in 2010 and Robins AFB in 2011 ) as well as a Winter Encampment in Florida, held during the second half of holiday break in December. Encampment experiences vary somewhat from State to State but at the Georgia Encampment, the Cadets often participate in the repelling tower, jump tower, M-16 computer simulator shooting range, and flights in Military helicopters.  Encampments are also held in many parts of the country, including the United States Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, CO.  Prices for the Encampments also vary, but generally are less expensive than most other week long summer camps.  A compete, and continually updated, list of National Encampments can be found HERE. The Cadet program combines military style discipline (without hazing or harassing) and structure to teach leadership skills, emergency services, as well as advanced aerospace education.   Many students today are home schooled, attend private schools, or attend public schools without a JROTC program.  For these young people, the Civil Air Patrol's Cadet Program is the perfect alternative to traditional Public School's JROTC program.  There are also students that attend schools that have a JROTC program, but would choose to use their academic time for academics and then join Civil Air Patrol for the experience and the wide range of scholarship opportunites, including ROTC scholarships.  Please read the excerpt from "Homeschool World Magazine", describing the advantages and benefits of Civil Air Patrol.   There is no requirement to join any branch of Service in armed forces at any time; the program is designed to teach tomorrow's leaders the skills that are required for a professional career.  However, if a teenager is interested in an ROTC Scholarship or attending an academy, this program can set them above other applicants.  We have had many Cadets over the past few years earn scholarships and Academy appointments due to their work and participation in Civil Air Patrol. If you are interested, and would like more information,  click HERE, to email our Squadron Commander, or just come for a visit.  Our complete schedule and meeting times are on the Main Page.  We invite you to come to any of our meetings.