Civil Air Patrol cadets see Peterson, space operations up close

Published Aug. 24, 2010
By 1st Lt. Jeff Smith
21st Logistics Readiness Squadron

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- A group of Civil Air Patrol cadets were introduced to space operations July 17 to 31 at Peterson Air Force Base and Headquarters Air Force Space Command this summer.

The 53 cadets and nine instructors from around the country toured Peterson AFB and other neighboring facilities, including Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, the 21st Space Wing Aerospace Physiology Center, Buckley Air Force Base, Schriever Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The cadets were participating in the Advanced Technology Academy and the Air Force Space Command Familiarization Course on Peterson AFB. Their academy and course culminated with a graduation banquet at the USAFA Falcon Club.

The purpose of the academy is to give CAP cadets an introduction to Air Force space operations through tours of squadrons and facilities. The group also visited other areas in Colorado Springs, including the Garden of the Gods Park and Pikes Peak. The activities are designed to have a positive impact on CAP cadets from around the nation and inspire them to pursue Air Force careers in the future.

The academy was led by retired Col. Mike McNeely and took place at Hanger 123 and Hanger 130. During the week, CAP cadets took part in several sorties in CAP aircraft and spent a few days learning about satellite orbits. The idea was to demonstrate the technologies CAP uses to accomplish its emergency services and disaster response missions and to teach cadets about satellite technology, satellite missions, the exploration of orbits, and other space operations topics through the use of the computer applications. CAP cadets also toured the Peterson Air and Space Museum.

The CAP cadets had an educational week of climbing inside a satellite ground station at Buckley to seeing a satellite being built at Lockheed Martin to touring all four space operations squadrons at Schriever AFB, giving the cadets an overall view of how all the bases and facilities work together to support Air Force Space Command.

CAP tours Peterson AFB