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CAP cadets visits Shaw, Airman relives past

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexandria Mosness
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C --  With his mom and dad standing on the Shaw flightline watching, a Boeing C-17 Globemaster II pulled up. Things sure had changed: He wasn't the teen in the Civil Air Patrol waiting on the ramp, he was the one flying the plane.

One Airman's dream came full circle here as he taxied across the flightline here for a C-17 demonstration flight for more than 100 members of CAP.

Captain Edward Sutton, 14th Airlift Squadron pilot from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., started off his military career as a member of the CAP. On June 30 was able to show young members of the 218th Training Regiment that with hard work, the CAP program can be a stepping stone into the military.

"I originally joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1997," said Captain Sutton. "I was involved in that for about five years through high school. After that I went to the Citadel for college down in Charleston and decided I wanted to be in the Air Force as a pilot. So, from that point I pursued a ROTC contract and I commissioned in May 2006."

Captain Sutton was able to see himself in the cadets throughout the visit.

"It's pretty cool," the pilot said. "I mean, I can see myself sitting on the plane 10 years ago doing this, and now it has come full circle. I'm upstairs, flying the plane and giving the tours. It really is cool to show kids what's out there and what their future can lead to."

The CAP was not only a stepping stone for the Gilbert, S.C. native, but also a reminder of where he came from.

"The Civil Air Patrol definitely gave me the building blocks for being an Air Force officer," he added. "Probably the biggest thing about CAP is there is discipline and (you learn) what to expect, what is the rank structure, and basically know what the Air Force is all about. And it all started, for me, becoming an Air Force officer. My commission started when I joined the Civil Air Patrol."

The visit was not just a trip down memory lane for Captain Sutton, but a learning experience for the cadets.

"The Civil Air Patrol is the auxiliary of the United States Air Force," said Gene Rutan, South Carolina state director of liason for CAP. "Our cadets range from about age 12 to 18. They wear the AF uniform. They learn search and rescue, first aid and other other practical things."

The cadets were not doing the average things kids do with their summers. Instead, they were experiencing military life.

"We're staying at nearby Fort Jackson for seven days and the cadets live like trainee Airmen," Rutan added. "They live in an open bay barracks and they eat in a chow hall and they're graded on how their uniforms look. They get PT. They do all the things a basic Airman would at Lackland. We try to give them some fun things to do. They come on base and have several tours here at Shaw Air Force Base. One of the fun things is an orientation flight on a C-17."

Ironically, today the captain flying the airplane is a graduate of our program and "we're quite proud of him," Rutan exclaimed. He was here at this very camp about 10 years ago.

The flight showed the young cadets it is possible to go on after CAP and serve the nation.

"Caption Sutton's story was a huge motivation for me," said Cadet Capt. Ben Gardner. "I have a couple of friends of mine who have been in the Civil Air Patrol and are now active duty military. It's always neat just to hear their stories. It was an encouragement to me and also a bit of a morale boost not only to me, but also to the other cadets just to see all the different opportunities that you can do being in CAP."

For more information about CAP, visit gocivilairpatrol.gov.