Missouri cadets shine at Civil Air Patrol encampment

Summer Camp with a Purpose: Learning Life Lessons in Missouri

For many children, summer camp is a time to make friends, play games, and enjoy the outdoors. But in Mexico, Missouri, five young cadets from Joplin’s Civil Air Patrol squadron are using their summer break for something more meaningful — learning valuable life lessons and preparing for future challenges.

Elaina Ramos, a Cadet Airman, shared her initial feelings about the experience. “I was a little nervous,” she admitted. When she arrived at the Missouri military academy a week ago, she wasn’t sure what to expect. However, by Saturday’s graduation, she had grown into a confident and proud participant. “I’m really proud of myself for making it through the week,” she said.

The encampment is part of the Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program, designed to help participants develop leadership skills, teamwork, and discipline. According to C/airman Caleb Castle, the program offers an opportunity to become a “flight and a team.” Over the course of the week, roughly 130 cadets from Missouri and several other states came together for a shared mission.

“We’re building up strong, capable individuals and teams who can go out into the world and make their communities and their own personal lives better places,” said C/lt. Col Isaac Olivea, who served as camp commander this year. Unlike traditional summer camps, this one is organized and run by the cadets themselves, with senior members acting as mentors and guides.

Because the Civil Air Patrol is an auxiliary of the United States Air Force, the cadets follow the same high standards as military personnel. Olivea emphasized that the goal isn’t perfection but progress. “It’s more about having progress in everything that we do — drill and ceremonies, our uniforms, our inspections, but more so our heart and soul, and how we’re building our character every day.”

The week wasn’t all about drills and inspections. The cadets had the chance to experience something truly exciting — a ride on an Air Force C-130. “It was really cool. They flew you around, you got to feel the force of the airplane,” Castle said.

They also learned new skills, such as FLM (Flight Line Marshaller), which allows them to guide planes on the tarmac. “It lets you be in front of the plane, guiding the plane where you want them to go,” explained C/cmsgt Shawn Currin.

But the real value of the experience came from the challenges they faced together. Building teamwork and pushing each other through tough situations became a key part of the program. “Building teamwork, and pushing each other through it, to believe that we could make it,” said Ramos.

Lyda Cook, a C/a1c, added, “I’ve gone through every single emotion with them. It doesn’t matter what situation I’m in, the team is always there.” She emphasized the importance of the friendships formed during the encampment. “Those friendships are extremely important,” she said.

Mark Bennetts, a Cadet Technical Sergeant, returned for his second year at the encampment. “So I could just get more training, be more prepared for next year when I can come back.” He believes the experience will help him grow and prepare for future challenges. “Encampment is one of the biggest parts of Civil Air Patrol, but Civil Air Patrol all year round holds cadets to this standard, as well.”

While the path may not be easy, the cadets understand that the true value lies in learning to work through failures and being resilient. “But it’s more so about learning to work through the failures and be resilient,” Olivea said.

And they won’t have to face these challenges alone. “You’re never alone at encampment,” Cook reminded everyone. This sense of community and support is a vital part of the experience, helping each cadet grow both personally and professionally.