Green Country Aviators Flock To Youth
by Capt Brandon Lunsford, CAP
JENKS, Okla (April 17, 2022) — Civil Air Patrol’s planned open house Monday, April 18, has been converted to a fly-in with the support of aviators from around northeastern Oklahoma. The Riverside Composite Squadron in Jenks, Oklahoma will be hosting an open house from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The squadron is based out of Tulsa Technology Center’s Riverside Campus, located at Tulsa Riverside Airport, 801 E 91st Street.
“The aviation community has come out in full support of our youth program,” said 1st Lt. Yolanda Daves, the squadron’s commander. “We are expecting a lot of aircraft for the public to come out and view while learning what Civil Air Patrol has to offer.”
Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program is a year-round program where cadets are introduced to aviation with an opportunity to pursue flight training, learn to lead, as well as hiking, camping and getting into shape as they explore careers in engineering, cybersecurity and space or the military.
Cadet Master Sgt. Kaitlyn Shannon of the Oklahoma Wing prepping for an orientation flight.
(Source: Capt. Brandon Lunsford, Sr., CAP)
“Aviators in our area have a real heart to serve youth,” stated Jeri Barrientos, one of the squadron’s aerospace education officers and a member of several aviation groups in the area. “It’s through events like these that pilots get to show off their planes, but also to inspire the next generation with aviation and aerospace engineering.”
Members of the squadron will be present to greet visitors and explain CAP’s mission for America. Youth between the ages of 12 and 18 can join the award-winning program as cadets, although there are also plenty of opportunities for adults over 18 as well.
"This is an important event because it is a chance to impact the lives of teenagers in the Jenks area," said the squadron’s cadet commander, Cadet Capt. Melia Chandler. "When I first joined the Civil Air Patrol, I quickly became interested in the leadership opportunities available, the people I could meet, and the connections I would be able to make. At first, it seemed like something I wasn’t going to be interested in, but after a few meetings, I fell in love with CAP."
The community is welcome to attend and learn more about Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program in Jenks and the surrounding area; no registration is required to attend.
Follow the adventures of the Riverside Composite Squadron at facebook.com/RiversideOK.CAP
For More Information:
About Civil Air Patrol
Established in 1941, Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 555 single-engine aircraft and 2,250 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and performs about 90% of all search and rescue operations within the contiguous United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Often using innovative cellphone forensics and radar analysis software, CAP was credited by the AFRCC with saving 108 lives last year. CAP’s 56,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. As a nonprofit organization, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace education using national academic standards-based STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education resources. Members also serve as mentors to over 23,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs.
Visit www.CAP.News or www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.
