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Ky. Cadets Connect Online With Overseas Counterparts
Capt. Stacy A. Foncannon
Public Affairs Officer
Kentucky Wing
COVID-19 has halted many cadet activities across the Kentucky Wing and the rest of Civil Air Patrol, but the wing’s cadet programs officer, Capt. Nick Birt, managed to launch a new activity for cadets by hooking up with an overseas organization facing the same challenges.
Birt’s counterpart in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, Pilot Officer Andy Watson, worked together to create a virtual exchange between CAP and Air Cadets squadrons that would foster leadership and provide aerospace education opportunities that participating cadets might not otherwise be able to experience.
The RAF Air Cadets is a volunteer military-based youth organization in the United Kingdom that, like CAP, halted just about all in-person activities because of the pandemic.
Kentucky Wing cadet squadrons, paired with demographically similar Air Cadet units, began meeting online monthly to learn more about the similarities and differences between their respective programs. Afterward, cadets on both sides of the Atlantic chatted among themselves in the virtual meeting space.
Kentucky Wing cadet squadrons, paired with demographically similar Air Cadet units, began meeting online monthly to learn more about the similarities and differences between their respective programs. Afterward, cadets on both sides of the Atlantic chatted among themselves in the virtual meeting space.
The sessions allowed cadets to make new friends and ease the feelings of isolation many faced—especially those living in rural areas.
Watson said the exchange provided his cadets not only a chance to reach beyond physical isolation but also an opportunity to see youth exactly like themselves serving in leadership positions in another country. The UK cadets were excited to learn about Kentucky and cadet participation in CAP.
“Feedback from the RAFAC cadets has been excellent. They’re keen to hear from the Americans and understand the differences in the culture,” Watson said. “Interestingly, during one of our first calls the cadets and staff realized that our corps ethos and that of CAP were almost identical.”
Kentucky Wing cadets eagerly took charge of telling their overseas counterparts about Kentucky and the diverse training opportunities CAP offers.
“Cadets shared lessons on many topics, ranging from the differences in rank structures to what interesting things Kentucky cadets had to do in their community, such as Lake Cumberland fishing or horse activities in the Bluegrass,” Birt said.
The Air Cadet members were surprised to learn of CAP’s focuses on emergency services and search and rescue, less common in the UK. The British program, in turn, teaches its cadets more about shooting sports, helicopters and flying gliders as part of its curriculum, The Kentucky cadets were also surprised to learn that the UK organization includes a musical component.
These differences in training and life opened conversational doors and built cross-cultural friendships amid a lot of laughter.
For Birt and Watson, an unintended consequence arose: “When can we meet?” became a common question.
The Kentucky Wing cadets are excited by the idea of meeting their sister squadrons and seeing the planes and gliders their overseas friends use. They’ve sked to make the virtual exchange program a physical one once the COVID-19 war is won.
Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Ceceilia Burton of the Lake Cumberland Cadet Squadron echoed that sentiment. “Our cadets in the Lake Cumberland squadron haven’t traveled far from the state, so the opportunity to learn more about cadets in the UK has been terrific,” Burton said. “I just hope that we will have the chance to meet members from our sister squadron in Bedlington, UK, and complete the entire exchange”.
Leaders in both programs say it’s a goal they’ll pursue once health risks surrounding travel and meeting are no longer an issue.
The participating units from both the Kentucky Wing and the UK –
- Fort Campbell Composite Squadron – Squadron 1151 (Wallsend)
- Frankfort Composite Squadron – Squadron 242 (Cramlington)
- Heartland Composite Squadron – Squadron 324 (South Shields)
- Kentucky ANG Composite Squadron – Squadron 346 (Tynemouth)
- Louisville Composite Squadron – Squadron 1114 (Gosforth)
- Owensboro Composite Squadron – Squadron 1000 (Blyth/Whitely Bay)
- Boone County Cadet Squadron – (Squadron 361 (Gateshead)
- Elkhorn Cadet Squadron – Squadron 861 (Wideopen)
- Kentucky Lakes Cadet Squadron – Squadron 1016 (Berwick)Lake Cumberland Cadet Squadron – Squadron 2522 (Bedlington)
- Owen County Cadet Squadron – Squadron 1248 (Prudhoe)
- Paducah Cadet Squadron – Squadron 1801 (Alnwick)
- Southern Kentucky Cadet Squadron – Squadron 404 (Morpeth)
- Stuart Powell Cadet Squadron – Squadron 1407 (Newton Aycliffe)Van Meter Cadet Squadron – Squadron 2344 (Longbenton)