MAXWELL AFB, Ala. — President George Bush’s new space initiative, which includes a return to the moon and a manned trip to Mars, has drawn enthusiastic support from at least one volunteer organization.
Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, historically has been one of the aerospace industry’s foremost supporters. CAP’s involvement in space education was particularly visible in the 1950s and 60s, during America’s space race, when the country was focused on developing future aerospace and aviation industry leaders.
“A lot of people were going into the aerospace industry during those days,” said Maj. Gen. Richard Bowling, CAP national commander. “Aerospace had captured the public’s imagination. But those aerospace leaders are aging now, and we don’t have enough young people following in their footsteps. To continue support for projects like the Mars Rover and the International Space Station, as well as the President’s plans for journeys to the moon and to Mars, we’ve got to help today’s young people develop their own fascination with space. Theirs will be a more high-tech perspective, of course, and that’s exciting. The next generation will have more potential to unlock the secrets of outer space than ever before.”
Even when the public’s interest in space waned in recent years, CAP maintained its focus. CAP has promoted aerospace education through both its members’ training programs and through public and private schools. CAP adult and cadet members learn the principles of aerospace as part of their official training. They also recruit teachers in their communities to use CAP educational materials in their classrooms through a special category of CAP membership just for educators. In 2003, the almost 1,500 teachers nationwide who belong to CAP as Aerospace Education Members received more than 30,000 free educational materials.
“You can’t imagine how much our teachers value CAP’s materials,” said Susan Mallett, principal of Thomas L. Head Elementary School in Montgomery, Ala. “We face a huge challenge here in Alabama with funding for education. Having an organization provide us with solid, standards-based materials – free of charge – is a godsend to us.” Mallett says her teachers use the aerospace activities provided by CAP not only to teach science, but also math, reading, geography, social studies and history.
CAP also has written and published aerospace textbooks for grades six through 12 and sells them at a cost far below regular market price. “Since it’s part of our mission to promote aerospace education, we believe it’s our duty to make these textbooks as accessible as possible,” said Jim Mallett, who directs the aerospace education program at CAP National Headquarters. “Aerospace is a niche market that isn’t addressed by the major publishers. Our books include not only the science and theory behind space travel and research, but also the kinds of hands-on experiments and activities that make the concepts come alive.” Among CAP’s publications are Aerospace Dimensions, Aerospace: The Journey of Flight, and the just-released Civil Air Patrol Model Rocketry book. Book prices are low because CAP directed both research and writing and published the books in its own printshop at Maxwell AFB, Ala.
CAP also has promoted space education for 37 years through an annual conference, the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education. The conference draws educators from various grade levels throughout the country. In 2003, CAP touched more than 50,000 students nationwide through the teachers who attended NCASE. “For the 2004 NCASE, in addition to our traditional educators, we expect to draw a large number of homeschoolers,” said Judy Rice, CAP National Headquarters deputy director of aerospace education. “These families are finding CAP’s aerospace education materials ideal for their self-paced programs.” NCASE is scheduled for March 24-27 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
Showing cadets the exciting career potential in the aviation and aerospace industries has become a priority for CAP, which is sponsoring workshops that give cadets real-life exposure to the aerospace workplace. One such encampment is E-Tech, a week-long workshop in conjunction with the engineering department at Auburn University. “I went to find out if I want to spend my life as an aerospace engineer,” said CAP cadet Drew McIlvaine, 16, from Chattanooga, Tenn.
At E-Tech, McIlvaine and other cadets attended engineering-related classes, worked in the university’s labs, and talked with professional engineers about their day-to-day work. “I liked having the chance to create and test my own airfoil,” said cadet Brian Doyle, 17, of Philadelphia. “I even got to watch a shockwave in the supersonic wind tunnel.”
According to a recent report issued by the Aerospace Industries Association, America is facing a “major workforce crisis in its aerospace industry,” which makes the promotion of math and science education a vital national interest. Bush’s current focus on the space program makes that need even more pressing. Through its thousands of members, as well as hundreds of educators throughout the nation, CAP continues to fuel the growth of America’s aerospace industries.
Civil Air Patrol, the official Air Force auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with almost 62,000 members nationwide. It performs 95% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors
to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 60 years.
On the Web:
Aerospace education membership for teachers:
http://level2.cap.gov/index.cfm?nodeID=5533
Aerospace education materials:
http://level2.cap.gov/index.cfm?nodeID=5521 and http://level2.cap.gov/index.cfm?nodeID=5511
National Congress on Aviation and Space Education:
http://level2.cap.gov/index.cfm?nodeID=5499 and http://www.cap.gov/events/ncmain.html
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