Civil Air Patrol Encampment climaxes Saturday, July 29, with ceremony at Stratton Air National Guard Base

STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SCOTIA, NY (07/28/2017) (readMedia)-- 200 Civil Air Patrol Cadets from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut will climax a week of leadership training here with a Pass-in-Review ceremony on Saturday, July 29.

Members of the press are invited to attend the event.

WHO: 200 Civil Air Patrol Cadets and their families, Congressman Paul Tonko and Congressman John Faso and Brig Gen. Timothy LaBarge, Chief of Staff of the New York Air National Guard.

WHAT: A formal military Pass-in-Review ceremony following which Representatives Tonko and Faso will present awards to the Cadets and Brig. Gen. LaBarge will deliver the keynote address. Five World War II veterans will be guests of honor at the event.

WHEN: 9 a.m. Saturday, July 29, 2017 (Event begins at 10 a.m.)

WHERE: Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, N.Y.

Coverage Opportunities:

Reporters can obtain video and still imagery of the military ceremony. Civil Air Patrol cadets and leaders can be interviewed.

Reporters must contact Lt Col. David Panzera at 518-379-6773 for access to this secure military facility.

BACKGROUND:

The Civil Air Patrol is a nonprofit corporation and is also the auxiliary service of the Air Force. Civil Air Patrol volunteers conduct search and rescue missions, assist the Air Force as required, and assist in disaster relief missions.

The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program allows young people -- ages 12 to 21-- to progress at their own pace through a 16-step program including aerospace education, leadership training, physical fitness and moral leadership. Cadets compete for academic scholarships to further their studies in fields such as engineering, science, aircraft mechanics, aerospace medicine, meteorology, as well as many others.

Those cadets who earn cadet officer status may enter the Air Force as an E3 (airman first class) rather than an E1 (airman basic).

Sixty Cadets run the encampment as staff.

During the 8-day encampment Civil Air Patrol cadets have taken part in class room instruction and hands-on activities like building and flying model rockets.

Cadets have also been given the opportunity to fly in either a C-130 operated by the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing or a C-17 flown by the New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing.