CAP Jr. Cadet Program readies national launch in Ala.

Celebration scheduled for Oct. 26
October 15, 2007



NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – The proven character-building power of the Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Program for 12-to-21-year-olds has been expanded to include a Junior Cadet Program for elementary school-aged children nationwide.

A “liftoff” celebration for the new Junior Cadet pilot program is set 10 a.m. Oct. 26 at Boaz High School's football stadium in Boaz, Ala. National, state and local dignitaries, including Gov. Bob Riley, have been invited to attend.

The celebration will feature:


A CAP aircraft fly-in


An Air National Guard F-16 flyover.


Parachute entry of “Cappy,” the Junior Cadet mascot.


A proclamation presentation.


A hot air balloon lift-off.


Model rocket launches.

Boaz kindergarten, primary and intermediate schools are among 10 Alabama schools participating in the Junior Cadet pilot program.

About 300 teachers and 7,000 students in 20 public, private and parochial schools in Alabama and seven other states -- Florida, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Puerto Rico, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona -- are field testing the program this fall. The Junior Cadet Program will be available to all elementary schools in fall 2008.

The Junior Cadet Program will provide elementary students an introduction to vital life skills -- character education, academics with an aerospace emphasis, leadership opportunities and physical fitness. Designed by educators, it incorporates fun, hands-on activities with national standards-based lesson plans that can be integrated throughout the curriculum.


The program augments CAP’s School Enrichment Program for middle and high school students that was introduced in Boaz schools three years ago. In that short period of time, the CAP program has contributed to Boaz middle school's move from near the bottom to fourth in the state in academic achievement.


CAP's School Enrichment Program "for America's middle and high schools is playing a major role in improving student opportunity and responsibility nationwide," said Col. Al Applebaum, the program's director. "Teachers report better attendance, better test scores and lower incidence of behavioral problems."


"Through the influence of this achievement-oriented program, students become more respectful, motivated, and goal-oriented as citizens and future leaders," said Susan Mallett, School Enrichment Program manager.

The School Enrichment Program is also credited with expanding the horizons of students in rural areas, where agricultural-related jobs dominate the economic environment.

“These kids have never had the opportunity to be exposed to aviation the way they have since implementation of the CAP youth program,” said Randall Haney, Boaz’s assistant superintendent. "These young people now have an expectation to be involved in the aerospace developments of the future."

Leland Dishman, Boaz City School System superintendent, welcomes the addition of the Junior Cadet Program.


“I’m glad to be a part of this pilot program,” said Dishman, who said the program will create a seamless venue for character development among students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade.

“The School Enrichment Program has allowed young people who were looking for something in which to belong an avenue to belong to something bigger than themselves, and they feel really good about themselves once they participate,” he said. “I’m hopeful what we’ve done here in Boaz will expand across this great nation.”


“We have top-end kids, and we want them to have top-end opportunities in the aerospace and aviation industry,” Dishman said. “We think once our kids see what they can do and what kind of lifestyle they can have, we’ll have a complete paradigm shift in attitude.”