Civil Air Patrol launches rockets at Putnam County 4-H Fair

Members of Civil Air Patrol’s Putnam County Composite Squadron (Carmel) set up an information booth and launched rockets on July 30, 2016 at the Putnam County 4-H Fair.

Led by Squadron Commander, Captain Elena MacDermant, cadets staffed the information booth answering visitor’s questions about Civil Air Patrol programs and membership throughout the day. Cadet Second Lieutenant Brandon Villegas, for example, discussed cadet membership with a young visitor, explaining how CAP’s cadet program is unique in that it uses aviation as a basis for its curricula which takes cadets through a program that includes aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership.

The model rocket display set up by cadets was one of the prime attractions for visitor questions from all age groups. Captain Ralph Langham, Aerospace Education Officer, informed visitors that Civil Air Patrol cadets participate in engaging aerospace educational activities like robotics and rocket building as one of the requirements to progress through the cadet program.

Later in the afternoon, under the direction of Captain Langham, cadets launched a number of rockets they built to the enjoyment of the gathered crowd. Cadet Second Lieutenant Austin Giacomelli, using a battery operated ignition box, launched the rockets which attained an average altitude of 300 feet. Cadet Master Sergeant Brian Kelleher, using an altitude finder, determined the height attained by each rocket launched. Once the solid propellant was consumed, the rockets glided back to Earth on parachutes expertly packed by Cadet Airman Jeily Morocho.

Squadron members agreed it was an excellent day to interact with the community by providing model rockets as one example of the outstanding elements of the cadet program and apprising visitors about Civil Air Patrol’s Putnam County Composite Squadron.

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.