Large Turnout at Civil Air Patrol Open House

Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. ­8/12/2026

37 prospective cadets and their supportive families converged upon the base theater on Scott Air Force Base on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, to learn more about the Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program and the Scott Composite Squadron, Illinois Wing.

The Squadron holds open houses twice a year for community awareness and to recruit both cadet and adult members into the Civil Air Patrol to later be of service to their community, state, and nation.

This onboarding method referred to as “Cadet Great Start,” is a program designed to bring in new cadet members and give them a great introduction to the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program and support them through earning their first achievement in eight weeks. In addition to the orientation for new cadets, materials provided to support the annual Squadron Open House, a cohort recruiting mode, and cadet cadre leadership training. Units that adopt a suggested Cadet Great Start program have an advantage in cadet recruiting and retention, the Quality Cadet Unit Award, and cadet and parent satisfaction.

The Squadrons’ top cadets serve as cadre and mentors to these prospective new cadets. Leading the team is Cadet Second Lieutenant Keith Whatley of Scott Air Force Base, along with Cadet Technical Sergeant Cooper S. Scarborough of Scott Air Force Base, Cadet Airman First Class Gabriel C. Gonzalez of Scott Air Force Base, and Cadet Airman First Class Riley S. Mackey oh Highland.

The Scott Composite Squadron hosts the largest cadet program in Illinois, with 77 cadets. The squadron is a frequent recipient of Civil Air Patrol’s Quality Cadet Unit Award and other accolades.

Six families traveled more than an hour away from Missouri and Illinois to learn about the Squadrons cadet program.

“This is the closest program to Effingham. My Son wants to be a pilot, and we read about your “Wings” program,” one parent said.

Cadet Wings is a merit-based program for cadets pursuing a Private Pilot Certificate. Cadets complete their training at a local flight school or with Civil Air Patrol flight instructors using our Civil Air Patrol Cessna 172 aircraft. Funding for this program comes from the United States Air Force and other funding partners such as the James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship with the goal of developing tomorrow's aerospace leaders.

The prospective cadets will return to weekly squadron meetings over an eight-week period.

“Civil Air Patrol is a great organization, but it is not for everyone. Civil Air Patrol recognizes this by requiring that all prospective cadets attend three meetings before they apply for membership,” said Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Gulick of O’Fallon, the Squadron’s Recruiting and Retention Officer and project officer for the open house.

“I joined Civil Air Patrol with my children, who are now grown. I stay to help mentor cadets and other adult members to ensure they are successful,” Gulick said.

For prospective members and their families that missed this opportunity may reach out to the Recruiting and Retention Officer for more information or be added to the guest list for the next open house scheduled for January 2027:

il205-rr@ilwg.cap.gov