Camp Swift, TX — Editor’s Note: The following is a continuation of a story published Tuesday, documenting Winter Encampment at Camp Swift in Bastrop County. The last days of the camp will be published on Sunday.



Today, Reveille came at 0445 instead of the usual 0500, with the lethargic cadets moving out of their warm barracks into the cold harsh world of the dreaded PT.

Luckily, the morning was warm enough to keep the ground from freezing, allowing for additional exercises that involve more contact with the ground (yesterday it had been too cold so the ground was hard).. Push-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks and various other workouts were common exercises seen throughout the squadrons.

Directly after PT, the cadets had some time allotted for personal hygiene and to change into their Battle Dress Uniforms (BDUs). With empty stomachs, everyone went to the chow hall for breakfast, in hopes that the pancakes and sausage would fuel them to start the long day ahead.

Following breakfast, the basic cadets attended an air powered mechanics class taught by U.S. Air Force representatives, while the Standards Evaluation Team (SET) inspected their barracks and the Advanced Training School (ATS) students stood by for inspection.

This last one was a hands-on exercise that would teach the ATS cadets the SET duties and responsibilities – since the next step in their own progression will be teaching cadet basics at future encampments.

When asked how he felt about the experience, Cadet Senior Airman Moellendof replied, “I liked the class because of all the information I received. I also liked being able to learn from people’s different points of view in the open discussions.”

Immediately following, the ATS students had a block of instruction on the Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Programs.

Once the classes were over, the basics practiced their Pass-In-Review skills, as the ATS cadets were finishing their Leader Lab class. After a very long morning, packed full of activity, lunch time finally came around. Cheese pizza, salad, fruit, tea and both chocolate and white milk were served to the hungry cadets. They ate quickly and, as they came back out, some were guided to the CAP vans.

After a short ride, the 47th Squadron cadets (about half of all basic cadets at encampment) found themselves at Camp Swift’s rifle range. There, caliber .22 rifles awaited each cadet. Before the cadets got to shoot the rifles, they got a safety briefing from Major Mike Cobb, a qualified instructor who manages the National Rifle Association weapons course. As soon as the safety briefing was concluded, the cadets got their rifles, took their place at the firing line, and locked and loaded as instructed. When given the command, they excitedly opened fire, each aiming at the small figures on the target in front.

C/A1C Julia Gardner said, “Shooting was a great experience. It was good fun, and I hope I get a medal.” A C/Amn who did not want his name mentioned, excitedly proclaimed that, “It was good! We were just shooting at targets and having fun.” Two hours later, the 47th Squadron cadets were taken back to the mess hall, where yet another class on the history of the Civil Air Patrol awaited them.

Immediately following the history lesson, the entire cadet encampment rushed outside and quickly formed for mass inspection. The SET members meticulously scrutinized the uniforms of the entire encampment, including flight staff, for what seemed like an eternity. They examined every small detail of each cadet’s uniform, looking for mistakes as small as a piece of lint or fuzz where none should have been.

The inspection concluded, the cadets were subjected to even more classes about the United States Air Force. Shortly after that, the encampment attended closing formation and learned which would be the honor flight of the day, the uniform of the day for the following day, and a brief recap covering the day’s activities.

The next item on the agenda was the best gift a tired and hungry cadet could possibly receive — Dinner. Cadets got a bowl of chicken and dumpling soup, another bowl with fruit salad, a plate with carrots, green beans, green salad and chocolate cake.

Dinner gave way to an activity called Spirit Time. This is when all the basic cadets meet in the mess hall and get motivated and excited about the rest of encampment. Today is Day Three, and the cadets are just about at the halfway point, eagerly looking forward to Spirit Time, which is a noisy round of friendly venting. (Some of them will have lost their voice by tomorrow, Day Four, but should have it back by graduation on Day Six.)

The loud and energized Spirit Time led into a quiet but very interesting class. This time, the cadets learned about the many civilian careers in aviation that are open to them. The cadets had an easy time keeping awake for this class, after the mass rally of Spirit Time.

The day has been so full of activity that the schedule wound up advancing at a different pace for most of the flights. The optional evening devotional, therefore, turned into a relay of fellowship and blessings, with small groups arriving as time permitted, to leave after a 15-minute pause of peace and relaxation.

Those who chose to attend felt better as they found their way back to their noisy billets.

At last, it is lights out at Camp Swift, and the cadets are in bed. Some of them have managed to fall asleep already, exhausted from the day.

On the following day, the fourth day of non-stop action, they will wake up before the crack of dawn for yet another day of classes, activities, and — yes, believe it or not — fun.