Air Cadets Volunteer At The US Aviation Experience Camp 2010
Twenty British Royal Air Force cadets from Kent Wing and Sussex Wing, Great Britain, toured USAF MacDill Friday as part of a two-week educational trip in Florida.
Every year for the past 15 years, ATC cadets have been given the opportunity to come to Florida to volunteer at the Sun n' Fun Air Show in Lakeland, Fla., said Flight Lt. John F. Wohlgemuth, Camp Commandant for the cadets on this trip.
"We call it the U.S. Aviation Experience Camp," Flight Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said. "It's a great opportunity for cadets to broaden their horizons and meet people from all over the U.S. and all over the world. The experience is really international."
Flight Lieutenant Wohlgemuth stressed the fact that this camp is not just sun and games; the cadets worked very hard at the air show. "In the United Kingdom, most people see only one reason to go to Florida, and that's for a vacation, but it's actually quite hard work," he said. "The cadets work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. all week at the air show, and it's the busiest airport in the U.S. that week!"
The high-school cadets volunteered mainly by marshalling in aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said. They learn marshalling signals at home and diligently practice using cars to ensure they are ready to safely help pilots park their planes.
This is the second year the organization has visited MacDill. Flight Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said they enjoyed their experiences here last year and this year, and they plan to make it a regular part of the itinerary for future camps.
"It seems like a very nice base," Flight Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said. "It's quite picturesque. I'm sure it's a nice place to be stationed."
Cadet Josie E. Duffy said she agreed with her Camp Commandant.
"We got to see more of the base this year than we did last year," said Cadet Duffy, who is one of three cadets on the trip who also attended the camp last year. "I'm glad we got to come back; it's great here."
Cadet Duffy, who has been a cadet for five years, said she has thoroughly enjoyed here second trip to the U.S. "The Americans are really nice," she said. "It's really fun meeting all the different people and meeting up again with the other air show volunteers we met last year."
Whilst the main role of the ATC cadet program is to provide citizenship training and skills useful in service and civilian life, the ATC does promote and encourage a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force. As such, many cadets do go on to join the Services, and in the case of Cadet Duffy, it appears as though this goal will be achieved.
"Most of my family has been in the Air Force or Army," Cadet Duffy said, "and I plan to [enlist] as well. I like to travel quite a bit. I think it's interesting to see all the different places."
In addition to volunteering at the air show and visiting MacDill, cadets are given the opportunity to visit other aviation themed locations such as the Kennedy Space Centre and the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Arcadia, Fla., which is part of both American and British WWII history.
"Twenty-three British airmen are buried there," Flight Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said of the cemetery. "It gives the cadets some history on the Second World War; it's part of their heritage."
Flight Lieutenant Wohlgemuth said this year's camp has been yet another successful educational experience for both the cadets and the chaperones.
"Every year it seems to evolve," he said. "Every year we meet new contacts, and we certainly plan to continue."