Civil Air Patrol's Long Island Group Holds Airman Academy at Bayport Aerodrome

BAYPORT, N.Y. – ew cadets from various Civil Air Patrol (CAP) units in Nassau and Suffolk County assembled at the Bayport Aerodrome in Bayport, New York, for its anticipated Airman Academy under the supervision of Lt. Col. J. C. Follender, CAP’s Long Island Group Cadet Programs Officer and fellow Bayport Aerodrome Society member. The goal of the event, held April 16th and 17th, was to prepare new Civil Air Patrol cadet trainees for their first promotion. Lt. Col. Follender commented, “OUTSTANDING group of young folks. It was comforting to see that discipline, dedication, and personal responsibility, has not entirely vanished from our world: there IS hope for the future. I was proud to be part of the event.” The cadet-in-charge, Cadet Captain Jared Del Orfano, and his staff delivered lectures, demonstrated preparation and wear of the uniform, promoted proficiency in military customs & courtesies, directed drill & ceremonies, and organized rides in single-engine aircraft. Other CAP senior members were on hand as instructors, food preparers and security detail.

The Bayport Aerodrome Society’s support of Civil Air Patrol and the vigor of CAP’s Long Island members in assisting with the Society’s presentations and breakfasts underscore the mutual relationship enjoyed by both organizations.  Considering the Aerodrome’s central location to CAP’s Long Island units, more opportunities to work together are being explored.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees. CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 78 lives annually.

Civil Air Patrol’s 56,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program.

Performing missions for America for the past 75 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

Long Island Group Civil Air Patrol is headquartered on the grounds of Long Island MacArthur Airport. For more information, please visit the Group’s website at lig.nywg.cap.gov.