Program promotes leadership, education

EPHRATA - The Civil Air Patrol is looking for about 25 new cadets.

The Civil Air Patrol is the auxiliary for the U.S. Air Force and conducts aerospace education, disaster relief and the cadet program. The program was signed into law in 1948 by President Harry Truman.

The local branch meets 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Thursday at the Ephrata Municipal Airport.

Maj. Keith Weber of the air patrol, said they are trying to rebuild the cadet program after a couple years of low staffing.

"The squadron hasn't been as active for the past couple years," he said. "We're trying out a new training program … It's just the difference in basic cadet orientation information. It used to be left up to each individual unit."

To help the recruitment effort, the patrol will hold an open house on Oct. 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ephrata airport. Weber said they're looking for 12- to 16-year-old members, but can take members up to the age of 18. The program is structured around leadership, aerospace education, character guidance, physical fitness and drug recognition.

Along with the weekly meetings, Weber said there is an optional training session one weekend a month, where cadets have workshops. During the summer, they hold summer encampment, which is a "watered down boot camp slash orientation"

"There are flight scholarships," he said. "We have an international air cadet exchange program … We host cadets from various countries and they host us."

Weber said he has been in the organization since he was a sophomore in high school and the program benefited him in his work.

"Just the leadership training alone (has) been invaluable," he said. "I probably would have never gotten interested in radio communication (without the program.) There's lots of things that our cadets can pick up that will benefit them down the road."

For more information, the squadron headquarters at 509-754-3273.