Take to the skies: Civil Air Patrol offers aviation, emergency training
Members of the Williamsport Civil Air Patrol Squadron 401 drill at sunset recently in Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Members of the Williamsport Civil Air Patrol Squadron 401 drill at sunset recently in Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Lt. Commander Christopher Hilton talks with the cadets of the Williamsport Civil Air Patrol Squadron 401 drill at sunset recently in Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Members of the Williamsport Civil Air Patrol Squadron 401 drill at sunset recently in Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Members of the Williamsport Civil Air Patrol Squadron 401 drill at sunset recently in Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Lt. Commander Christopher Hilton talks with the cadets of the Williamsport Civil Air Patrol Squadron 401 drill at sunset recently in Montoursville. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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Aurora Cieslukowski joined the Civil Air Patrol with the intent of becoming a pilot.
"I've always been interested in aviation. My uncle was an Air Force pilot," said Cieslukowski, 15, of Watsontown.
She is among area youths who are part of the growing ranks of the Williamsport Composite Squadron 401 Civil Air Patrol.
The group of both adults and youths meets Wednesday evenings at the Williamsport Regional Airport.
The bunch is headed up by Commander Christopher Hilton, a career Army veteran who is pleased with its growth.
Hilton noted that people can get training to earn their private pilot licenses through the Civil Air Patrol.
However, there is much more to the organization.
Civil Air Patrol, he said, teaches leadership skills and teamwork and other important skills.
"We teach and mentor the cadets in all aspects of emergency services," he said. "They learn respect, discipline. They go to camps and take courses."
Cadets are called up as volunteers to help with rescues. Many are trained in first aid and CPR.
"We cover anything in emergency services such as natural disasters and helping find lost people," he said.
Cieslukowski said she is enjoying her time with the Civil Air Patrol and recommends the organization to anyone who is interested.
Hilton said his mission is to get more people into the organization which normally doesn't do much to toot its own horn.
"We are doing more activities and letting people know what we do," he said.
Another cadet, Teddrick Wright, 13, of Montgomery, also hopes to earn his private pilot license through Civil Air Patrol and needs 40 flight hours to attain that goal.
But he likes other aspects of the organization, too.
"I enjoy making friends and encampment," he said.
Encampment, Hilton explained, is a kind of "miniature boot camp" located in Fort Indiantown Gap near Harrisburg.
Hilton said many people like the structure and military aspect of Civil Air Patrol.
"We have people who plan on going into the military," he said.
Formed in 1941 to mobilize the nation's civilian aviation resources for national defense service, Civil Air Patrol has evolved into a public service organization that still carries out emergency service missions when needed -- in the air and on the ground.
Its 56,000 members serve their communities, while also promoting aviation and related fields through aerospace/STEM education and helping shape future leaders through CAP's cadet program.