Before I tell you the content of our conversation, I would like to give a brief history of this cadet.
I first met this cadet while I was the Group III Commander in Tn, it was in
Knoxville at the annual Cadet selection and Drill Competition.
We were asked to transport him home (about 150 miles) wasn't to far out of our way, we were going past were he lived (with in 30 miles). When I met this cadet he was a short pudgy kid that talked like a politican, so I dubbed him the Mayor.
This cadet probably has had more trouble staying in Civil Air Patrol than any other Cadet in the Program.
No I don't mean getting into trouble,
it was trouble staying in because the unit he was deactivated.
Well he wanted to stay in so bad that his mother drove him to Lebanon Tn every monday so he could be in the Lebanon Composite Squadron in Lebanon, TN this was about a 100 mile round trip for mom.
Well that was ok for about a year until the Lebanon Squadron was disbanded. He then transfered to the Smynar Composite Squadron in Smynar Tn , another 150 mile round trip for mom.
This worked for a while until there was a conflict with a cadet that turned senior and our cadet was forced to find refuge in yet another unit, The Bowling Green Comp Squadron in Bowling Green, KY.
In the meantime this cadet worked his way up the ranks , attended two encampments each year (Summer and winter)attended a special activity each year including a National Flight Encampment and the CAP IACE .
When the Cadet graduated from High School he enrolled in a Flight School in Oklahoma
All of the special activities were in the cadts words great. But the one that he will remember the most is the National Flight Encampment, for this brings us to the crust of the phone call.
The Cadet is Cadet Lt Col Steven Mathis of
KY 217 (The BORDER PATROL)and he called to tell me that he had finished the flight traing sometime back had his certiicates in commercial-multi eng and multi eng instrament and working flying right seat for a company in Oklahoma.
He also added that he is also in college in Oklahoma .
I wanted to pass this along , as this cadet followed his dream and it became reality and when you have anything to do with a cadet achieving his goal in life, IT JUST PLAIN MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD!
In the case of Steven Mathis there are Four of that probably feel that way ..... Lt COL James L. Barnes, Lt Col Rosemary Hackney, Lt Col Jeffery Tipton and Lt Col William Darby.
And I guess even with all the trouble and turmoil in CAP in the past and present it was worth it.
HE MADE THE DIFFERENCE!
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