On the November 13, 14, and 15 the cadets of the Newnan Coweta Cadet Squadron held their Fall 2009 Basic Cadet Training weekend in Hogansville. A BCT is a weekend training exercise designed to teach cadets search and rescue skills and leadership for the future.

The cadets arrived to the Flat Creek Campground outside of Hogansville that Friday. After their gear was inspected by the staff, the cadets set up a camp for what would pass for home during the next 36 hours. Saturday was filled with many activities.

With a 5:30am wake-up call the cadets marched out to a near-by field for morning physical training (PT). The exercises included push-ups, crunches, and jogging. After PT the cadets began a long training day filled with compass orienteering, leadership classes, mock combat training, and locating dummy distress beacons. At night, cadets played games that encourage them to work together as a team. Sunday morning consisted of more physical training and a model rocket workshop.

The Newnan Coweta Cadet Squadron is the local chapter of Civil Air Patrol. They meet on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Newnan Coweta Airport.

Civil Air Patrol is a not for profit organization dedicated to three missions, Cadet Programs, Emergency Services, Aerospace Education. Formed Dec 1, 1941, CAP began as a civilian air force. They flew Piper J Cub airplanes to scout for German U-boats off American shores.

Today they aid the Air Force with 90 percent of all in-land Search and Rescue missions. The Cadet Program is a 16-step structure based off of Air Force ranks.

In the program students between the ages of 12-18 study leadership, management skills, Air Forces values/doctrine, and more. CAP also educates both its members and the public about the importance of Aerospace Education.

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