|
|
|
|
|
CORAL SPRINGS CADET SQUADRON HOSTS AEROSPACE DIMENSIONS 2006
Flag Ceremony at KARS park, Cadet/2dLT Odierno and Cadet/2dLT Sage
Civil Air Patrol Cadets and support staff visited Brevard County on June 2-4, during an Aerospace Dimensions 2006 weekend. This was an event sponsored by the Brevard Community College SpaceTec Program and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Posing with a Mercury Redstone rocket
109 Civil Air Patrol members primarily from Group 6 and Group 11 shared a non-stop aerospace education weekend. The agenda included visits to Brevard County Community College Planetarium, Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and a behind the scenes look at rockets and spacecraft residing at these locations. During the evening, training continued with instruction on blood borne pathogens, space and survival foods, satellite tool kit, Alka-Fuji Rocket building, direction finding and radio communications. KARS Park, which is located at the south gate of Kennedy Space Center on the Banana River was the base of operations for this activity. Students aged 12-18 from Coral Springs Cadet Squadron and several other surrounding squadrons from Palm Beach and Broward County had a unique opportunity to learn more about the aerospace industry, tour Cape Canaveral U.S. Air Force Station, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center and experience potential careers in space technology. “We’re training future aerospace technicians,” said Dr. Tom Steffen, Department of Labor Project Manager for the Project Genesis Department of Labor Grant. “We’re trying to give them insight into aerospace technology. Most of them have a general interest in space, but now we’ll give them the details.” Careers in aerospace technology and space-related fields – fiber optics, structures, hydraulics, electrical, and new materials such as composites - continue to thrive as NASA’s new frontier unfolds in space exploration.
Lt. Col. Doug Stropes, commander of Detachment One, 45th Mission Support Group, with 1LT Mitch Drucker and the commander of the Coral Springs Cadet Squadron Captain Bruce Sage.
Mitch Drucker, deputy commander for the Coral Springs Cadet Squadron, said the cadet program grooms youths in leadership, emergency services and aerospace education. The Civil Air Patrol is an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, which is one of the reasons for the strong military support for the program, Dr. Steffen said. On Sunday, June 4, the cadets presented awards in recognition of several key personnel involved in making this event possible. The awards ceremony took place at the Cape Canaveral Cafeteria and a presentation was made to Lt. Col. Doug Stropes, commander of Detachment One, 45th Mission Support Group, who represented Brigadier Gen. Mark H. Owen, commander of the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base. The importance of the relationship between Civil Air Patrol, Patrick AFB and the 45th Space Wing was also recognized, in addition to all the work by the Coral Springs Cadet Squadron in the planning and execution of the event, in partnership with SpaceTEC.
The entire event, despite the complexity in arranging and implementing the multi-faceted program, was a great and inspiring success. It takes vision, dedication and teamwork and this success is attributed not only to the attendees and those mentioned above, but also to the tireless work of Coral Springs Squadron Commander Bruce Sage, John Edwards, Mitch Drucker and many others. Feedback by participants was overwhelmingly favorable. FLWG Model Rocketry Officer and 1st Lt. John Edwards is working with SpaceTEC to ensure continuation of a similar activity in the future for other Civil Air Patrol members. The event has received media exposure, including coverage in Florida Today-Space Coast on 4 June 2006. This highly successful weekend event could not have been done without FLWG Model Rocketry Officer 1st Lt. John Edwards and Squadron Commander Bruce Sage. Also participating were Col. John Lynn, FLWG AEO. In addition there were the Group 6 and Group 11 participants (Senior members and Cadets) along with Deputy FLWG Chaplain Capt. McMullen. Lantana Cadet Squadron, Squadron 805, Boca Raton Squadron from Group 6. Group 11 was represented by Pompano Squadron, Ft. Lauderdale Squadron, Crystal Lake Middle School Squadron, Weston Squadron and of course Coral Springs Cadet Squadron. At this dramatic time in history, the more that can be done to inspire the youth of the United States to become more involved in the educational, innovative and technical endeavors that made America the world leader in so many areas, the better it is for the future. It is hoped that events such as Aerospace Dimensions 2006 will lead to additional productive events.
Submitted by: 2LT Richard C. Peritz PAO SER-FL-016 Coral Springs Cadet Squadron |
|
|
