Civil Air Patrol Training Flight at Stratton Air Guard Base Wednesday, July 18

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SCOTIA, NY (07/17/2018) (readMedia)-- Fifty Civil Air Patrol cadets attending the CAP annual encampment here will get the chance to ride with the 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron on a C-17 Globemaster III aeromedical evacuation training flight on Wednesday July 18.

Members of the media are invited to cover the event.

WHO: Basic Cadets from New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut with the Civil Air Patrol. The cadets are among 180 from New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut, ages 12-21, taking part in the Civil Air Patrol Leadership Encampment at Stratton Air National Guard Base throughout the week.

WHAT: Civil Air Patrol Leadership Encampment including load-up on a C-17 Globemaster III from the 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart Air National Guard Base for an aeromedical evacuation training flight.

WHEN: 9 a.m., Wednesday, July 18.

WHERE: Stratton Air National Guard Base, 1 Air National Guard Rd., Scotia, N.Y.

Members of the media MUST contact Master Sgt. Catharine Schmidt by calling or texting (518) 701-4312 in order to gain access to the secure facility.

Media Opportunity:

Between 9-10 am, media will have the opportunity to speak with cadets and CAP Encampment leadership about the encampment as well as witness them loading up the C-17 at 10 a.m. Reporters will not be part of the orientation flight.

Background:

The Civil Air Patrol is a nonprofit corporation and is also the auxiliary service of the Air Force. Civil Air Patrol volunteers conduct search and rescue missions, assist the Air Force as required, and assist in disaster relief missions.

The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program allows young people -- ages 12 to 21-- to progress at their own pace through a 16-step program including aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership. Cadets compete for academic scholarships to further their studies in fields such as engineering, science, aircraft mechanics, aerospace medicine, meteorology, as well as many others.

Those cadets who earn cadet officer status may enter the Air Force as an E3 (airman first class) rather than an E1 (airman basic).

Stratton Air National Guard Base is the home of the 109th Airlift Wing. The wing flies the largest ski-equipped aircraft in the world, the LC-130, and provides support to research in the Antarctic and in Greenland.