20 young cadets earn their first stripes during the rebirth of Alaska Civil Air Patrol here in the Mat-Su

WASILLA— The newly formed Mat-Su Squadron of the Alaska Civil Air Patrol officially debuted to the Valley with its first promotion ceremony for 20 young cadets at the Church of Christ on Majestic View Circle Aug. 27.

“It just keeps growing,” Lynda MacPherson, Mat-Su Squadron Civil Air Patrol, 2nd Lt. said.

There are now 30 cadets total in the program, ages varying from elementary to high school.

Thomas Merritt, a young air cadet joined the Mat-Su Civil Air Patrol squadron in July. He was one of 20 cadets at the ceremony, earning his first airmen stripe. Merritt likes to teach. He said that he plans on rising in the ranks so he can instruct, lead and mentor other cadets in the program.

“And overtime with a higher rank, I can teach them learning skills,” Merritt said.

In the future, he wants to either be a commercial pilot or a bush pilot. He still hasn’t made up his mind yet. This cadet program is designed for kids like Merritt, opening the doors to many possibilities and instilling diverse values and skills along the way.

Each cadet went to the front, one by one, saluting their superiors and shaking hands down the line before getting their official stripe pinned to their uniform. Although this program is technically non-military and a civilian operation, it mirrors in many ways that way of life. Special guest, retired Air Force Col. And current Alaska Civil Air Patrol Commander, Carl L. Brown Jr. was excited to see the Civil Air Patrol program return to the Valley.

“It’s an opportunity to serve," Brown said.

It’s been several years since the last one disbanded and the overall interest seems out here seems stronger than ever. Many of the young cadets in the Valley program have already done some training for emergency response and aviation exercises with many more in the horizon.

The Alaska Civil Air Patrol, branched off the national program founded in 1941, is a non-profit, congressionally chartered, and federally-backed organization consisting of youth and adult volunteers that provide support to communities across the state with emergency response, diverse aviation and ground services, youth development and promotion of air, space and cyber power. From lost hikers and kayakers to skiers caught in an avalanche and those caught in an earthquake, this fleet of civilians perform countless search and rescue missions year-round. They often coordinate with the U.S. Air Force and other military branches in emergency situations. The Civil Air Patrol serves as the official civilian auxiliary under the Air Force. Brown said that air patrols down in the Lower 48 were some of the only planes in the sky during the aftermath of 9/11.

“The service that we bring to the country: we do so through local means. That is, search and rescue up here, disaster response- we provide support to the communities in a variety of ways,” Brown said.