BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- 9 cadets and 3 senior members of the Civil Air Patrol, Alabama Wing took a ride on a KC-135R Stratotanker during an incentive flight by the 117th Air Refueling Wing on January 23, 2020.
The Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and serve 3 congressionally mandated missions to include Aerospace Education, Emergency Services and Cadet Programs.
Major Ben Booth, Director of Communications for the Alabama Wing and Deputy Commander of the Mountain Lakes Squadron brought cadets to Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard base as part of their Aerospace Education activity and Cadet Program. “None of our cadets are under obligation to pursue a career in the Air Force later on but we like to show them what the Air Force does just in case. Since we are the auxiliary, they might show an interest in that later,” he said.
According to the Civil Air Patrol website, the Alabama Wing is one of fifty-two in the Civil Air Patrol. The Alabama Wing reports to the Southeast Region (SER); one of eight regions, as part of the command structure. Subordinate units are divided into squadrons throughout Alabama.