What to Expect

During the week-long encampment, cadets will experience an Air Force-like environment. Cadet will attend classes introducing them to the Air Force, aerospace power & heritage, Emergency Services, Aerospace Education, & Cadet Programs; plus aerospace careers & their requirements. Cadets will participate in drill & ceremony and physical fitness activities daily. Orientation flights in CAP aircraft will allow cadets to experience flying first hand.  A cadet's daily routine at encampment is shown below.  Cadets will be busy for fourteen and a half hours every day.   

The ENCAMPMENT CORE TRAINING is the focal point of encampment and varies from day to to day.  Training will include classroom instruction, hands on activities, team leadership problems, and field exercises.   

During encampment, cadets will apply their newly-gained knowledge to practical situations. They will develop a greater understanding of the Air Force and Civil Air Patrol, develop leadership and interpersonal skills, develop time-management and  teamwork skills, develop discipline, overcome challenges, and succeed. Teamwork, personal responsibility, sportsmanship, confidence, and respect are taught, demonstrated, and encouraged.

Encampment can be the most significant and worthwhile training experience of a CAP cadet’s membership. Training is what encampment is all about. To achieve the overall goals, a positive attitude is essential. Each cadet staff member will learn as much as possible to be able to offer the highest quality training to their subordinate cadets.  The staff must always remember their first duty is to the members of the basic flight.  This trickle down approach ensures that the a high quality cadet staff will produce quality encampment graduates.

Encampment attendance aids in the retention and motivation of attendees. Cadets who attend enhance their local unit’s Cadet Program by applying their knowledge gained at the encampment.  They also encourage other cadets in their unit to attend the next encampment.  Many of these cadets return to encampment as cadre (staff) in following years to impart this knowledge onto the basic (first year) cadets.