38 Cadets Representing U.S. On IACE Visits to Foreign Nations

Thirty-eight Civil Air Patrol cadets from 22 wings gather at their launching hubs Monday before leaving to represent the United States on an international exchange of goodwill and a mutual love of aviation.

Their travels around the world officially begin July 9 and will end on Aug. 1.

Since 1947, the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) has brought together outstanding youth leaders from multiple countries to promote global understanding, and to support the growth of aerospace knowledge around the globe. Today, IACE consists of 19 countries and exchanges over 300 cadets every year.

Of the more than 25,000 cadets in Civil Air Patrol’s 52 wings, only 38 will serve as U.S. ambassadors, making IACE the most competitive and sought-after of CAP’s National Cadet Special Activities.

“Only a select group of our cadets get this opportunity,” said Lt. Col. Peggy Myrick, CAP’s IACE activity director. “As chosen participants, they truly are serving as America’s youth ambassadors, representing the very best of CAP.”

The cadets’ journey begins over the weekend with the youth and their nine escorts flying to one of two launching hubs: one in Washington, D.C., for cadets flying to the eastern countries and Canada, the other in San Francisco for cadets flying to Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Israel and the Republic of Korea. Once in their host countries, cadets meet the participants from other countries in the exchange.

The IACE experience is memorable for the cadets as well as the senior members who accompany them.

“The interaction with the world’s aviation community is of great value to all involved,” said Myrick, who has participated in the program for the past 10 years. “I am always amazed at how well our cadets conduct themselves in their host countries and how much they learn about other cultures in just a short time.”

This year the U.S. will welcome 38 cadets from the Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom. Over their first three days stateside, these visiting cadets will tour Washington, D.C., and the Steven Udvar-Hazy Aerospace Museum before flying to their host states to learn about American culture and share their passion for aviation.

Follow the cadets’ journeys through the U.S. on social media with #IACE2018USA.

Here are this year’s CAP participants, listed by destination country and with senior member escorts first:

Colorado WingHeadquarters

Arizona WingMohave Valley Composite Squadron

Indiana WingHeadquarters

New Jersey WingBayshore Composite Squadron

Virginia WingLynchburg Composite Squadron

Virginia WingMonticello Composite Squadron

Prince William Composite Squadron

Southeast RegionRegion Headquarters

Alaska WingBirchwood Composite Squadron

California WingBeach Cities Cadet Squadron 107

Colorado WingThompson Valley Composite Squadron

Maryland WingBethesda-Chevy Chase Composite Squadron

Ohio WingCuyahoga County Cadet Squadron

Oklahoma WingEdmond Composite Squadron

Texas WingLackland Cadet Squadron

Virginia WingCoastal Composite Squadron

West Richmond Cadet Squadron

Wisconsin WingEau Claire Composite Squadron

Virginia WingLeesburg Composite Squadron

New York WingMid-Eastern Group

Pennsylvania WingChester County Composite Squadron 108

Wisconsin WingFox Cities Composite Squadron

Minnesota WingWing Headquarters

Pennsylvania WingGolden Triangle Composite Squadron 603

Tennessee WingMurfreesboro Composite Squadron

Texas WingSheldon Cadet Squadron

Lubbock Composite Squadron

California WingLos Angeles Cadet Squadron 138

Maryland WingGlenn L. Martin Composite Squadron

Southeast RegionRegion Headquarters

Florida WingWesley Chapel Cadet Squadron

Illinois WingPalwaukee Composite Squadron

Pacific RegionRegion Headquarters

Texas WingDelta Composite Squadron

Nighthawk Composite Squadron

Great Lakes RegionRegion Headquarters

Georgia WingCurrahee Cadet Squadron

Illinois WingSpringfield Composite Squadron

Massachusetts WingHanscom Composite Squadron

Michigan WingSouth Oakland Cadet Squadron

Willow Run Composite Squadron

Van Dyke Cadet Squadron

Minnesota WingSt. Cloud Composite Squadron

New York WingRochester Composite Squadron

Rockland Cadet Squadron

Puerto Rico WingMuniz ANG Cadet Squadron

Virginia WingPrince William Composite Squadron

Wisconsin Wing153rd Madison Composite Squadron