Oklahoma flight celebrates record breaking numbers
OKLAHOMA FLIGHT CELEBRATES RECORD BREAKING NUMBERS
by 1st Lt. Brandon Lunsford, Sr, CAP, Oklahoma Wing
Cadet Basics being led through the Cadet Oath during the September 2019 promotion ceremonies by unit Cadet Commander C/Lt Col Bailey Lunsford, left.
TULSA, Okla. – Civil Air Patrol’s Oklahoma Wing has 18 units across the state. The newest, Riverside Flight, is located at the R. L. Jones Airport in the Tulsa Technology Center at 91st and Elm Streets, on the border with Jenks, Oklahoma. This flight functions as part of the Broken Arrow Composite Squadron, and is commaded by Maj David Snell.
“We started looking into the possibility of a new flight at the Tulsa Technology Center when we noticed increased interest in the area,” said Flight Deputy Commander of Seniors 2d Lt. Yolanda Daves. “We began hosting open houses in June and July this year for five weeks, with a different theme each week.”
“The response was exciting,” added Flight Safety Officer Staff Sgt. Dan Golden. “We had over 100 people attend each week. It really got us thinking.”
R. L Jones Airport has grown to become a hub of business and economic activity for the Tulsa region. It now includes three runways, over two hundred commercial and private hangars, and over 500 aircraft based. This is the fifth-busiest general aviation airport in the country. Much of the airport's activity comes directly from its seven flight schools.
“The open houses brought in 29 new cadets and six new adult members,” Daves continued. “This increased our flight size to 56 cadets and 17 adults.”
A portion of the (now) Cadet Airmen after their September 2019 promotion ceremonies.
The flight held a training weekend, “Operation First Stripe” (OFS). The new cadets were invited to attend as students while 15 of the senior cadets instructed the 20 different classes, including drill and ceremonies, chain of command and uniform wear. The weekend training led to 20 of the 29 cadet basics receiving their promotion to cadet airman at the end of September. In addition, 10 cadets received their promotions to senior ranks, including one cadet officer.
“My favorite thing about OFS was learning drill, I really love drill,” said Cadet Airman Chloe Shannon.
Cadet Airman Chloe Shannon (left) and Cadet Airman Kallyson Carter (right) after their September 2019 promotion ceremony
Shannon was one of the 29 cadet basics that attended the training weekend and completed her promotion requirements, earning the rank of Cadet Airman in September with 19 of her flight peers.
“In such a short time, Riverside feels like home. I like everything about it,” continued Shannon referring to her overall Civil Air Patrol experience.
A photo album for the promotion ceremonies is available at facebook.com/RiversideOK.CAP
For More Information:
Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of more than 80 lives annually. CAP’s 66,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to over 28,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.
