Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Kade Bruce of the Springville Regional Composite Squadron was recognized May 7 as the first Missouri Wing cadet to become an instructor pilot for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), commonly known as drones.
Bruce is also one of only two cadets in Civil Air Patrol’s seven-wing North Central Region and only six in the entire organization with that distinction, said Lt. Col. Raun Hamilton, Missouri Wing vice commander.
The qualification became official April 17, enabling Bruce to train and assess others in operating drones. The Springfield squadron’s deputy cadet commander, he leads an sUAS class of more than a dozen fellow cadets during meetings.
“This would be a great achievement for (an adult) member of CAP, and for a cadet it’s even more so,” Hamilton said.
“I am very excited to be able to use my qualification to teach others and share my passion for the field of small Unmanned Aerial Systems,” Bruce said.
“Kade at this point can teach and sign off on the (specialty qualification training records) for technician and mission pilot task,” said 1st Lt. Robert Martin, who heads up the sUAS program for the Springfield squadron as its operations officer.
“He can also teach others how to fly the aircraft and different tasks that need to be taken before, during, and after flight. He can video record other pilots doing their Form f5 evaluation.”
Kerri Bruce, a cadet sponsor with the squadron, said her son has been intrigued by all kinds of vehicles since he was a toddler.
“As a homeschool student … he has spent time learning about how vehicles influence the work of construction, transportation, commerce, protection, and accessibility,” she said.
Bruce has assisted his mother in creating and leading a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) club at Holland Elementary. Other cadets and adult members have also assisted with the class, creating an opportunity to bring together the worlds of CAP, education, and information from weather to airplanes to the sUAS program.
_____2nd Lt. Shirley FriendAssistant Public Affairs OfficerSpringfield Regional Composite SquadronMissouri Wing
