SD Wing performs ROTC/JROTC Orientation Flights
South Dakota Wing provided a series of orientation flights to Air Force ROTC cadets from South Dakota State University, Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from Roosevelt High School, and CAP's own cadets on September 15-16. The US Air Force funded the flights for the 51 cadets.
CAP flew 14 SDSU ROTC cadets on 14 sorties from Brookings Airport on Friday. Two cadets rode with the CAP pilot on each flight to an outlying airport where they stopped, shut down the engine and swapped seats. Each cadet flew the aircraft from the front right seat above 1,000 feet above the ground. Five CAP youth program cadets were also part of the Brookings schedule of flights.
On Saturday, 32 Junior ROTC Cadets from Roosevelt High School flew on 32 sorties from Joe Foss Field, also flying to an outlying airport with each cadet flying from the right seat above 1,000 AGL.
In addition to the flights, the CAP pilots instructed the cadets about flight principles and aircraft operation.
South Dakota Wing received many positive comments from cadets, parents, and the ROTC & JROTC staff members.
Five CAP orientation pilots flew four aircraft during the flights: Lt. Col. Justin Johnson, Maj. E.W. Filler, Capt. Kurt Johnson, Capt. Kevin Hobbie, and Capt. Jon Becker. Maj. Tyler Gross served as escort officer and photographer. Lt. Col. Mike Cassidy was the overall project officer.
