12 July2009
LUBBOCK, Texas - In front of a crowd of 7,000 three Civil Air Patrol cadets from the Lubbock Composite Squadron performed a precision Presentation of the Colors to open the Slaton Air Show on the 65^th Anniversary of the D-Day landing, June 6^th, 2009. Building on their experiences of competing at Camp Mabry in Austin during February as well as opening a Shallowater High School baseball game in May, as well as dozens of practices, the team was able to put on a good performance.

That’s not to say the previous day had been easy for them or the rest of the cadets from the Lubbock Squadron. All of the cadets had served on aircraft fireguard the previous evening with each of them walking one hour shifts around the aircraft that had arrived for the Air Show. On top of that, a heat burst from a dissipating thunderstorm struck their campsite at 2:30 that morning flattening their tents with dust laden, 60 mph gusts and a dramatic increase in the temperature.

“My flashlight was like a short range laser because of all the dust,” said C/TSgt Robert Vernon. “The beam went out only a few feet.”

“First time that I’ve ever seen a tent roll by me with the person still inside, screaming,” added C/Amn Joseph Garcia talking about the squadron’s newest cadet, C/AB Daniel Hernandez, who dramatically discovered the importance of a properly staked down tent.

The cadets stood tough during the windstorm, the first of many unexpected challenges they would face during the air show, and the challenges did not end with the Presentation of the Colors either. The Color Guard cadets quickly changed back into their utility uniforms and went to work keeping the crowd back behind the ropes.

“It was so hot,” said C/SrA Fox, “like an oven, only with a few hair driers thrown in for some wind.”
During the air show the temperature quickly climbed past the century mark making the light gray concrete tarmac into a frying pan. One air show patron fainted from the heat causing EMS crews stationed for the aircrews to scramble back across the airfield to provide assistance.

Then when the cadets thought it couldn’t get any worse, all of the air show food vendors ran out of food due to unexpected size of the crowd that turned out. Food tickets issued to the cadets were worthless except for a chance to get out of the sun when they were relieved.

“Happy meal heaven” joked senior member Christina Varner as she handed out the tiny bags of McDonald’s food to the cadets stuck on the aircraft ramp. With the highway nearly blocked from the traffic and local law enforcement trying their hardest to keep the roads clear SM Varner weaved her way into town and purchased twenty meals for the cadets. The cadets gulped down their food and drank their water while standing on duty wishing they could be somewhere else, but each cadet knew the job had to be done.

And still it worked. The show went on. The air show went ahead on schedule and the crowd was wowed by the twists and turns of the aerobatics. Rare aircraft to Texas, such as a Russian Antonov AN-2 still in its Aeroflot livery, or the trio of Japanese bombers that performed simulated attacks on the airfield complete with dynamite and kerosene explosions.

Then it was over four hours after it began. The cadets left the ramp thoroughly cooked and tired, but satisfied that they had stuck together and toughed out the toughest air show they have ever worked. No one was seriously hurt on either side of the ropes.

“I did my job,” exclaimed C/CMSgt Varner, who supervised the cadets on the ramp, “I kept them conscious!” No small affair given the 105F ground temperature on the ramp with thirty knot winds. He saw to it that every cadet working the line drank a bottle of water every few minutes and organized relief from Seniors when a cadet so much as looked even a little pink.

“Mission First” took on a whole new meaning for the cadets from Lubbock, they have experienced it first hand.

Civil Air Patrol cadets fly, learn to lead, camp, get in shape, and push themselves to new limits. Each summer cadets can choose from one of over thirty USAF and State Wing activities. Other cadets from Lubbock will work toward their pilot’s license this summer while those younger than 16 will travel to East Texas to earn their Ground Team Rescue badges or attend Basic Encampment.

Story and Photos submitted by Kyle Vernon, 2d Lt, CAP