Civil Air Patrol cadets launch model rockets
By: Christopher Roche, Lt Col, CAP
Squadron Commander – Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron
Find out what's happening in Essex-Middle Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Middle River, Md. – Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron cadets completed the Model Rocketry Program with a model rocket launch in early December.
Find out what's happening in Essex-Middle Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Maj Jeffrey Thomas, Aerospace Education Officer, coordinated the lessons and rocket building. He received a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) grant earlier in the year to conduct the course. As part of the rocketry program, cadets learned all aspects of building rockets. As the final portion of the program, cadets built and launched multiple rockets. Ten cadets completed the final portion of the course and earned the Model Rocketry award.
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 26,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 72 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths
Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.
Nearly 1,700 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions. The wing was credited with five finds and one life saved. Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland. Members flew 2,106 hours in all mission categories. Volunteers contributed services estimated at $4.6 million. For more information contact the Maryland Wing at www.mdcap.org.
The Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron meets every Thursday from 1900-2100 at Martin State Airport. For information, visit www.glmcscap.org