Jose 'JJ' Balderas
The Azle Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol will host an open house from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18 at Cornerstone Community Church, 2233 E. Highway 199 in Springtown.
The event is intended to give individuals an opportunity to learn about the squadron’s cadet and adult programs before its next cohort, which begins Sept. 1. Visitors will move through stations covering aerospace education, emergency services, communications, safety and more.
Attendees are not required to join that evening.
Capt. Ronda Kilian, public affairs officer for the Azle Composite Squadron, said the volunteer-based organization works alongside the United States Air Force to help locate missing people and downed aircraft, and assess damage following natural disasters using technology such as drones and geographic information systems.
These technological skills are among the many abilities cadets can develop through the Civil Air Patrol cadet program.
“Our cadet program is one of the highlights that we have,” Kilian said. “It’s teaching our next generation some very important values and leadership skills.”
Kilian said cadets start by learning how to wear their uniforms, follow directions, teamwork and the basics of Civil Air Patrol. She emphasized that the program welcomes youth as young as 12, regardless of prior experience.
“They come in and they know nothing,” she said. “Pretty soon they learn a little bit more and then they take those skills and apply it to different areas within the squadron. Once they have mastered some of those skills, they start teaching them. They pour back into others.”
Kilian noted the Civil Air Patrol is an excellent opportunity for career exploration and is not designed to recruit young people into the armed forces.
“Some of our cadets may want to go into an emergency medical technician role, paramedic or firefighter,” she said.
“We also have a program that’s called CyberPatriot, where we introduce cybersecurity concepts and STEM-related subjects. A lot of our emphasis is, what are they wanting to do with their life? We give them opportunities to do career exploration.”
As a volunteer for nearly seven years, Kilian said her “paycheck” is witnessing how the program transforms young people. She recalled a young cadet who initially struggled to sit still and focus.
Nine months later, she was surprised to see a different level of confidence and maturity demonstrated by the cadet.
“He was so articulate in all of his answers. His uniform was impeccable,” she said. “I was like, ‘Whoa!’ It made such a difference for him.”
Kilian credited much of that growth to the squadron’s structured program and adult mentors, who guide new members through the program.
“We have some real quality adult members that come from all walks of life,” she said.
“We are very protective of our cadets. There’s a very regimented screening process to get quality adults — people who have life experiences and can pour back into others. Some have made a career in the military; some have never been in the military. Everybody has something to offer.”
Although Azle is in the squadron’s name, Kilian said the squadron serves a much larger area. Members come from Azle, Springtown, Weatherford, Decatur, Fort Worth and other surrounding communities.
Kilian said adults are also welcome to attend the open house to learn about joining the squadron’s adult program.
“Come see what we’re about,” Kilian said. “Anybody that wants to give back to their community and invest in the leaders of tomorrow — that’s what we need.”
