More than 60 cadets from the Michigan Wing enjoyed orientation rides April 22 on a trio of KC-135 Stratotankers flown by the Michigan Air National Guard’s 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

Two of the aircraft refueled A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in flight, with the third refueling F-16 Fighting Falcon jets.

“Being able to see and be in working military aircraft was amazing,” said Cadet Airman George Fredenburg of the Maj. Kevin A. Adams Memorial Composite Squadron.

“I also enjoyed learning more about the Air National Guard,” the cadet said.

Maj. Matt Roberts, emergency services officer for the Adams squadron, noted that one of the cadets “experienced his first-ever flight from the jump seat in the cockpit of the KC-135 while we refueled an F-16 —  an amazing experience he’d never have had if not for Civil Air Patrol.”

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of our cadets,” said Capt. Chuck Nemecek, the squadron’s commander.“Seeing an aerial refueling mission up-close and engaging with professional airmen gave them a whole new perspective on what a career in the military might look like.”

The CAP visitors came from 17 squadrons and a pair of cadet flights:·      

  • Blue Water Composite Squadron

  • Hillsdale Composite Squadron

  • Lakeshore Composite Squadron

  • Livingston Composite Squadron

  • Lt. Col. Kheen Composite Squadron

  • Livonia Thunderbolt Composite Squadron

  • Maj. Kevin A. Adams Composite Squadron

  • Monroe Composite Squadron

  • Oakland Composite Squadron

  • Selfridge Composite Squadron

  • Tri-City Composite Squadron

  • Van Dyke Composite Squadron

  • Willow Run Composite Squadron

  • Al Johnson Legacy Cadet Squadron

  • Grand Rapids Metro Cadet Squadron

  • Rochester-Oakland Cadet Squadron

  • South Lyon Cadet Squadron

  • Battle Creek Cadet Flight

  • Scott M. Burgess Cadet Flight

_____2nd Lt. Linda AubuchonPublic Affairs OfficerMaj. Kevin A. Adams Composite SquadronMichigan Wing

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