Immediately following last weeks PPSNYS Workshop, I was "deployed" to Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, NY to photograph the week long Civil Air Patrol Encampment. If you're not familiar with the Civil Air Patrol, it is the Auxiliary branch of the United States Air Force for Cadets ages 12-21.
CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and occupations. It performs three congressionally assigned key missions: emergency services, which includes search and rescue (by air and ground) and disaster relief operations; aerospace education for youth and the general public; and cadet programs for teenage youth.
There are CAP Squadrons all across New York State including the NY212 Ghost Squadron right here in Canandaigua that meets every Wednesday evening at the VA Medical Center. My son Cade is a Cadet Chief Master Sergeant there. Feel free to contact me if you have a teenager interested in joining.
The Encampment is a week of intense training for the Cadets who are basically immersed in military life on the base. They participate in drilling, aerospace, search and rescue training as well as getting some flight time in the CAP Cessna's or a ride on a C-130 or C-17. The Cadet's were also treated to a fly by from two USAF F15 Eagles from Massachusetts.
It was an honor to not only be able to photograph the Encampment, but to participate in the development of the future leaders of our country and military. Here are some images from the week at Stratton ANG.
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