The aerodynamics of Allentown
Local Civil Air Patrol cadet program conducted in church for over 40 years
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer
The officers of the Allentown Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol have played an important role in training local teens in aerospace education, leadership, physical fitness, and emergency and disaster preparedness support for nearly half a century.

Cadets launch the Delta Dart model airplanes they constructed during aerospace training at the Allentown Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meeting in the Allentown Presbyterian Church Sept. 17.

The Civil Air Patrol, a nonprofit organization with more than 55,000 members nationwide, has been conducting its cadet program in Allentown since 1968. The current Allentown Composite Squadron has 17 cadets and senior members from Allentown, Millstone, Upper Freehold, Hamilton, and West Windsor who meet every Thursday at the Allentown Presbyterian Church.

Maj. Gregory Putnam, deputy commander of the Allentown Composite Squadron, said cadets learn leadership roles modeled after those in the Air Force.

"They also learn about drill and ceremony and learn military edict," Putnam said. "They also learn moral leadership, safety, and are tested once a month on physical training."

Left to right: Jerry Iacona, captain of the New Jersey Wing Civilian Air Patrol, instructs cadets at the Allentown Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meeting in the Allentown Presbyterian Church Sept. 17. Cadet 2nd Lt. Brett young, 17, of Yardville, engineers a Delta Dart model airplane.

During the Sept. 16 meeting, cadets learned about aerospace engineering and the principles of flight by building and flying model balsa planes with rubber-band propellers. Class also included a presentation by Airwoman Anna Putnam, who just graduated from U.S. Air Force basic training and advanced training as an A-10 mechanic.

Cadets begin the program at age 12 and usually end at 18 when they graduate high school.

"They benefit from the core principles Civil Air Patrol teaches all its cadets," Putnam said.

Completion of this program provides the cadets with "special activity opportunities" including Civil Air Patrol scholarships to various Civil Air Patrol glider and powered flight academies, and NASA programs such as the National Space Academy. Mitchell Award recipients are eligible to receive the grade of E-3 upon enlistment in the U.S. Air Force and may also receive credit toward Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps' General Military Course. The military academies also look favorably upon cadets who have earned the Mitchell Award.

Putnam became involved in the cadet program when he was still in the Army Reserve.

"I have stayed 20 years as deputy commander for cadets for five squadrons throughout New Jersey," he said. "I saw the impact on the young people having someone with the principles Civil Air Patrol inspires and have never left."

According to Putnam, the New Jersey Civil Air Patrol pilots are continuously poised to fly missions for the U.S. Air Force, Department of Homeland Security, Red Cross Disaster Operations, and the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management. According to Putnam, Civil Air Patrol performs 95 percent of inland emergency air and ground search and rescue missions and last year was credited by the U.S. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center with saving over 90 lives.

Teens and adults interested in serving with Civil Air Patrol can log on to www.njwg.cap.gov, which provides New Jersey group and squadron meeting locations.

For information about the Allentown Composite Squadron cadet program contact Major Gregory Putnam at gregvputnam@ yahoo.com or the unit website at http://allentown.njwg.cap.gov/.