STEM and leadership opportunities available for teens

Worcester - The Goddard Cadet Squadron, local unit of the Civil Air Patrol, is hosting an open house from 3:30pm to 5:30pm on Sunday, May 1, 2022 at the Army National Guard Base at 640 Plantation Street in Worcester. The public is welcome to come learn more about CAP and its three primary missions of Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education, and Emergency Services.

For Cadet Programs, visitors will be able to discover how CAP provides teenagers with leadership experience, see what national activities are available to members, and even participate in a short military drill demonstration. For Aerospace Education, you can find about the opportunities our members have to fly in our own aircraft, model rocketry, and more. For Emergency Services, you can learn out about CAP’s role in assisting in natural disaster relief, searching for lost aircraft or people, and other benevolent tasks we perform for America.

Named for famed local scientist Robert H. Goddard, the Goddard Cadet Squadron has been recently honored with the Distinguished Unit Award, meaning it is recognized as being one of the best units in the country. Past or current members of Goddard Squadron have successful careers in a wide variety of fields, such as aviation, computers, science, teaching, first responders, and the military, including one former member currently attending the United States Air Force Academy and another at the United States Naval Academy.

Open to anyone 12 years of age or older, the CAP program offers its members unique training and experiences that will help them in college, the business world, the military or other public service. At a weeklong event during the summer, members participate in such activities as a robotic demonstration from Boston Dynamics, hear inspirational talks from leaders of business and government, fly in Blackhawk helicopters, and learn and practice skills on how to lead and build teamwork. Members often form life-long friendships.

The open house is designed to create a greater awareness of CAP’s presence and contributions in the community as well as introduce what experiences and skills CAP can teach its members. You can also visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or GoddardCadetSquadron.com for additional information.

Established in 1941, Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 555 single-engine aircraft and 2,250 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and performs about 90% of all search and rescue operations within the contiguous United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Often using innovative cellphone forensics and radar analysis software, CAP was credited by the AFRCC with saving 108 lives last year. CAP’s 56,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. As a nonprofit organization, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace education using national academic standards-based STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education resources. Members also serve as mentors to over 23,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs.

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CONTACT: Roland Houle, (508) 736-8892, Roland.Houle@mawg.cap.gov