17 June 2007
CAMP MAXEY, TX – At 0500, on Sunday, June 17, 2007, the Texas Wing 2007 Summer Encampment cadet staff rolled out of bed and prepared for the long day ahead of them, starting with a nice and long PT session. After the workout, everyone headed to the chow hall for breakfast, after which they put the finishing touches on the barracks which are now ready for the Cadet Basics’ arrival.

They were relieved when, at 0900, Civil Air Patrol basics began to stream into the parking lot, where the flight sergeants were waiting to check their bags. The cadets are nervous yet excited; some facing the shocking realization of what encampment might be for them, as they go through in-processing. Here they are given a T-shirt and their Standard Operation Instructions (SOI) which they are told to guard with their life, as it will be their “bible” for the week.  They are then directed to their bunks, where they study their SOIs, learn Customs and Courtesies of the Service, and discover just what it means to be a basic at summer encampment.

At approximately 11:30, the basics are given about five minutes to rapidly change into their battle dress uniforms (BDUs), form a single-file line, and head over to the chow hall. While waiting in line for their lunch, cadets must study their SOIs – small booklets hastily stapled together – which they must hold at a ninety-degree right-angle, with the art and forearm parallel to the ground. As they study, staff members quiz them on different parts of the SOI. After they have received their food, they learn that they must stand, studying their SOIs, until all their flight members have received their plates and are standing at the table. Then they sit and quietly eat their food, as they are constantly reminded not to look around. 

After lunch, the nine flights fall outside for drill, as the sergeants get a feel for the level of achievement that their cadets have brought to encampment. Soon after, the cadets are introduced to the Standards Evaluation Team (SET). This highly trained cadet staff team teaches the cadets how to make their bunks, polish their boots, iron their uniforms, and all of the other stuff they need to know for the upcoming inspections. Everything must be perfect. Cadets then rush back to their bunks, where they work hard to organize it like the SET members just showed them.

A short class follows, and the cadets are marched back outside for quite a bit of drill and ceremonies, something that they will spend a lot of time doing at Camp Maxey. They will also spend a significant amount of time on team building, as well as working together as a flight. 

At 1800, cadets once more file into the chow hall for the final meal of the day, pulling out there small SOIs for the “studying in line” ritual. After dinner they sit in a firearms training class, where they learn about the firearms they will be shooting later in the week, as well as general firearm and range safety. 
At long last, at 2115, the cadets get their long-awaited personal time. During this free single hour, cadets will prepare their uniforms and bunks for the following day’s inspections, but they also will talk about the long and hard first day of encampment.  Lights-out time at 2215 arrives, and the cadets eagerly get into bed after a long and tedious, yet exciting day. 

But it isn’t quite over for the cadet staff, who still need to meet and discuss all that happened during the day, and how the following day needs to unfold. They get their chance to rest at 2300, as final lights-out rolls in.
 

Article and photos submitted by C/SMSgt Marcela Leano