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No. 300: Alaska Cadet Hits Cadet Wings Milestone with Pilot Certificate
Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Wings program is marking a major milestone after Cadet Maj. Thomas Clifton of the Alaska Wing’s Southeast Composite Squadron became the 300th cadet to earn his private pilot certificate through the program.
Clifton, 17, received his certificate after a check ride with a Federal Aviation Administration examiner April 9 at Eugene Airport in Oregon.
“It is a great honor to be a part of this milestone,” said Clifton, who wants to be a commercial pilot.
Funded by the U.S. Air Force to offset the nation’s looming pilot shortage, the 5½-year-old merit-based Cadet Wings program provides the opportunity of a lifetime for cadets like Clifton, who have earned their wings by completing ground school and flight training.
The aviation community regards a pilot certificate as the first step for those who want a flying career.
Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, CAP’s national commander and CEO, led the recognition of Clifton.
“Congratulations to Cadet Clifton, Civil Air Patrol’s 300th Cadet Wings program graduate,” Phelka said. “He has achieved an important personal goal in his aviation journey, made even more important as it represents another milestone in this critical CAP program helping to replenish America’s pilot ranks.”
The accomplishment wasn’t an easy task for Clifton, according to Kathrine Schmidt, program manager for Cadet
Wings, who said he split time between his home squadron in Juneau and the Oregon Wing’s Mahlon Sweet Composite Squadron in Eugene to complete his flight training.
“Seeing two wings work together to help support Cadet Clifton was inspiring,” Schmidt said. “When in Alaska, Cadet Clifton was traveling over 100 miles, one way, to complete his flight training.
“The wings worked together to make sure he had a CAP flight instructor and a CAP aircraft in both locations.”
Clifton received his first CAP cadet orientation flight just over five years ago, not long after joining CAP on Jan.
29, 2019.
He said this April 9 is a day he’ll always remember, even though storms moving across the Pacific Northwest delayed his check ride.
“The weather made the flight portion a challenge,” Clifton said. “We had to spend a lot of time en route avoiding the weather, but almost three hours later we shut down in front of the hangar. When I finished the last checklist item, [FAA examiner Joe May] turned to me, shook my hand, and said, ‘Congratulations.’
“After five years of waiting, the day had finally come.”
Clifton is thankful to those like Schmidt within the Cadet Wings program who helped him achieve his certificate — and to both the Alaska and Oregon wings.
“I have indeed been so blessed to have the support of two wings through the process, and I wish there was more I could do to thank the incredible instructors,” he said. “This experience has given me a new certificate, new skills, and a jump start to my career in aviation.”
“I grew up in southeast Alaska, which is not a geographic region known for being conducive to flight training,” he said, and there are no flight schools. “We rely on aviation for transportation in and out of the isolated island communities, but the weather makes flight training very challenging.”
Despite those challenges, Clifton’s determination never flagged.
“Long story short, I was able to start flight training while traveling in Oregon,” he said. “Later I was able to attend the Alaska Wing's glider flight academies three times, and besides that initial flight training, I have done it all with CAP in both Alaska Wing and Oregon Wing.
“Both wings have done so much to support my flight training.”
The Cadet Wings program relies on financial support from the U.S. Air Force and others to support CAP cadets in their flying endeavors.
“Our team is also thankful for the (James C.) Ray Foundation and their continued contributions to help cadets like Cadet Clifton achieve their goal of becoming a pilots,” Schmidt said. “It has been an honor to support him during his training, and we can’t wait to see what he does next in aviation.”
Just recently, the foundation approved funding for six more CAP cadets to be a part of the program through James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarships .
Clifton, meanwhile, looks to continue his flight journey, and he wants to pay it forward because of the support he has received from CAP.
“My career goal is to be a commercial pilot, so for one, my private pilot certificate is a start toward that goal. Much deeper than that, though, I plan to give back to CAP and the aviation community in general, especially the next generation of CAP cadets,” he said.
“CAP and the aviation community have given me so much and set such a great example. I cannot wait to give back to the community in meaningful ways.”
In addition to the Southeastern and Mahlon Sweet squadrons, Clifton’s cadet career in CAP includes stints in the Washington Wing’s Columbia Basin Composite Squadron, based in Ephrata, and the Inter-State Flight in Pullman.
All 300 cadets who have attained their private pilot certificates through Cadet Wings are listed here.
In 2019 the U.S. Air Force provided initial funding for and continues to support CAP’s Cadet Wings program, whose goal is to increase the nation’s pilot population. More recently, donations by the James C. Ray Foundation provides an additional funding source to open training slots for 56 Cadet Wings pilots. These training slots also include a dedicated CAP mentor for the aspiring pilot. Cadets may qualify for up to $10,000 with a James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship to train for their Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificate.