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Cadet Great Start Weekend Held at Wing Headquarters

Cadets at Great Start
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Cadets at Great Start Weekend. Photo by C/CMSgt Catalina Ziegler, CAP (click image to view full size)
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Burlington Composite Squadron hosts inspiring cadet event

By C/CMSgt Catalina Ziegler, CAP
Public Affairs Officer of Great Start Weekend

2/24/2019–BURLINGTON, NC–The Cadet Great Start Weekend took place at Wing Headquarters in Burlington, North Carolina from 22-24 Feb 2019. A total of 52 cadets from 14 squadrons attended the event, with 83% of the cadets having no rank at all or having only earned their Curry. 
 
The weekend began Friday evening with cadets arriving eager to begin their training. The evening started with an overview of what the cadets would learn over the next 2 days. C/Lt Col Creech and C/Capt Vermillion taught the cadets what it’s like to be a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) member and went over all the NCSAs that CAP has to offer. Next, the students were broken up into flights for group introductions. Cadets then grabbed their cots and went to bed, excited to learn more about the program.
 
Despite the rain on Saturday, cadets were up early and ready for Physical Training (PT). As a key part of the cadet program, PT is essential to the overall health of the students and staff. After breakfast, cadets formed back into their flights and were taught basic drill maneuvers. After lunch, the cadets were taught about the chain of command, leadership foundations, and how to properly prepare the cadet uniform. In the evening, cadets and staff got together for an intense game of volleyball and crab-soccer in the gymnasium. After dinner, the cadets took a character development course, were introduced to the CAP core values and learned the cadet oath. The evening wrapped up with a review of the day’s training and an ice cream social.
 
On Sunday morning, the cadets were treated to PT led by former cadet now Army Paratrooper PFC Aiden Maxfield. By meeting a former cadet who was able to successfully forge his own path, the cadets saw that they had the potential to achieve great things, too. However, PFC Maxfield also taught the cadets that he had to work, really work, to get to where he is now. After breakfast, cadets participated in a game of Jeopardy which included everything the cadets had learned during this weekend. The weekend concluded with Graduation. 
 
Everyone went home very excited about the opportunities that CAP affords them.