1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:15,020 --> 00:00:17,420 Hello everyone and welcome to yet 3 00:00:17,420 --> 00:00:19,639 another edition of the Tinker Talks 4 00:00:19,639 --> 00:00:22,649 podcast . I'm Clayton Cummins in for 5 00:00:22,649 --> 00:00:25,360 Mark . Mark is busy , so happy to step 6 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,527 in for him . Now if you're listening , 7 00:00:27,527 --> 00:00:29,749 you may not notice anything different , 8 00:00:29,749 --> 00:00:31,916 but if you're watching , you certainly 9 00:00:31,916 --> 00:00:33,916 do you may be looking behind me and 10 00:00:33,916 --> 00:00:35,860 think , uh , that's not Tinker Air 11 00:00:35,860 --> 00:00:37,971 Force Base . Well , you are correct , 12 00:00:37,971 --> 00:00:40,082 we are not at Tinker Air Force Base . 13 00:00:40,082 --> 00:00:42,169 We are on the northwest side of 14 00:00:42,169 --> 00:00:44,669 Oklahoma City . The podcast team and I 15 00:00:45,009 --> 00:00:47,330 here with Civil Air Patrol . We're 16 00:00:47,330 --> 00:00:49,799 talking to Colonel David McCollum , the , 17 00:00:49,869 --> 00:00:52,759 uh , commander of the Civil Air Patrol 18 00:00:52,759 --> 00:00:55,814 to Oklahoma . Sir , it is a pleasure to 19 00:00:55,814 --> 00:00:57,981 see you once again . Good to be here . 20 00:00:57,981 --> 00:01:00,147 Thank you , Clayton . Uh , some people 21 00:01:00,147 --> 00:01:02,203 may not know it , but we've actually 22 00:01:02,203 --> 00:01:04,258 crossed paths that we have in a past 23 00:01:04,258 --> 00:01:06,147 life when I worked in the TV news 24 00:01:06,147 --> 00:01:08,314 business . Yeah , you did , and , uh , 25 00:01:08,314 --> 00:01:10,536 I was in the media relations business , 26 00:01:10,536 --> 00:01:12,703 and it was always . It was always good 27 00:01:12,703 --> 00:01:14,814 seeing you on a story because we knew 28 00:01:14,814 --> 00:01:17,147 we were gonna get great coverage . Yeah , 29 00:01:17,147 --> 00:01:19,481 of course I , you expected nothing less . 30 00:01:19,481 --> 00:01:21,647 Exactly , exactly . hey , it's a small 31 00:01:21,647 --> 00:01:23,814 world , don't burn bridges . You never 32 00:01:23,814 --> 00:01:25,814 know who you're going to , uh , see 33 00:01:25,814 --> 00:01:27,925 down the road , but , uh , uh , hey , 34 00:01:27,925 --> 00:01:29,981 it's nice to see you . We're talking 35 00:01:29,981 --> 00:01:32,092 civil air patrol today before we do . 36 00:01:32,190 --> 00:01:34,301 We do want to learn a little bit more 37 00:01:34,301 --> 00:01:36,301 about you , Colonel McCollum . Uh , 38 00:01:36,301 --> 00:01:38,412 tell us a little bit about yourself . 39 00:01:38,412 --> 00:01:40,523 How did you get involved in civil air 40 00:01:40,523 --> 00:01:42,412 patrol ? Well , um , to go back a 41 00:01:42,412 --> 00:01:44,579 little further , I actually grew up in 42 00:01:44,579 --> 00:01:46,801 Oklahoma . Um , I grew up in Ada , um , 43 00:01:46,801 --> 00:01:48,968 went to OU , a long story that I won't 44 00:01:48,968 --> 00:01:50,690 share . It's too long for this 45 00:01:50,690 --> 00:01:52,860 broadcast , um , but I went to OU and 46 00:01:52,860 --> 00:01:55,250 was , uh , Air Force ROTC at , at OU DT 47 00:01:55,250 --> 00:01:59,010 675 , um , the flying schooners , and 48 00:01:59,220 --> 00:02:01,553 I left Oklahoma right after I graduated . 49 00:02:01,930 --> 00:02:05,120 And I , I took a very circuitous path 50 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,489 back , came home about 11 years ago . I 51 00:02:07,489 --> 00:02:10,259 joined CAP as a result of the Steve 52 00:02:10,259 --> 00:02:12,289 Fawcett , uh , search when he went 53 00:02:12,289 --> 00:02:14,929 missing . Uh , Civil Air Patrol was 54 00:02:14,929 --> 00:02:17,410 very involved in the search for his 55 00:02:17,410 --> 00:02:20,289 missing aircraft , and I had been 56 00:02:20,289 --> 00:02:22,567 thinking for a long time about joining , 57 00:02:22,567 --> 00:02:24,733 um , what is the Air Force auxiliary , 58 00:02:25,130 --> 00:02:27,839 and that was the impetus for me to find 59 00:02:27,839 --> 00:02:29,728 a unit near where I was living in 60 00:02:29,728 --> 00:02:31,839 Houston at the time . And I did and 61 00:02:31,839 --> 00:02:35,279 that was uh 16 years ago and one of my 62 00:02:35,279 --> 00:02:38,080 mentors , Air Force and CAP mentors 63 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,160 told me you need to learn how to say no 64 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,320 or this organization will eat you alive 65 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,542 and obviously I have not learned how to 66 00:02:46,542 --> 00:02:48,320 say no because I'm now the wing 67 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,487 commander of the Oklahoma Wing yes you 68 00:02:50,487 --> 00:02:52,153 are , so it's uh it's a great 69 00:02:52,153 --> 00:02:54,376 responsibility and it's a great honor , 70 00:02:54,376 --> 00:02:57,000 uh , to lead . Uh , about 850 71 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,220 volunteers in Oklahoma . I find a lot 72 00:02:59,220 --> 00:03:01,360 of people that are in aviation , you 73 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:02,916 know , it's in your blood , 74 00:03:05,410 --> 00:03:07,080 right ? You have an automatic 75 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,570 attraction to , uh , you know , runways , 76 00:03:09,759 --> 00:03:11,729 aircraft , etc . that doesn't ever 77 00:03:11,729 --> 00:03:13,896 escape you , does it ? It never does . 78 00:03:13,896 --> 00:03:16,118 It never does . And that's one of the , 79 00:03:16,118 --> 00:03:18,285 one of , one of the really cool things 80 00:03:18,285 --> 00:03:20,229 we get to do in CAP is we take our 81 00:03:20,229 --> 00:03:22,451 cadets up and our cadets are aged 12 to 82 00:03:22,451 --> 00:03:24,860 18 . Um , we take them up on what we 83 00:03:24,860 --> 00:03:27,027 call orientation flights , and it's to 84 00:03:27,027 --> 00:03:29,860 expose them to aviation , and I can't 85 00:03:29,860 --> 00:03:31,916 tell you how many times I've taken a 86 00:03:31,916 --> 00:03:34,138 young cadet up in the air and you watch 87 00:03:34,138 --> 00:03:36,860 them light up as they actually handle 88 00:03:36,860 --> 00:03:40,500 the controls and um see them get bit by 89 00:03:40,500 --> 00:03:43,339 the same bug that I got bit with just a 90 00:03:43,339 --> 00:03:45,450 couple of weeks ago , you know , it's 91 00:03:45,450 --> 00:03:49,339 uh um it it's really fun to um 92 00:03:49,339 --> 00:03:51,259 share that love of aviation , all 93 00:03:51,259 --> 00:03:53,490 things aviation . Um , with our young 94 00:03:53,539 --> 00:03:55,706 people and , um , you know , there's a 95 00:03:55,706 --> 00:03:57,817 pilot shortage that's going on now in 96 00:03:57,817 --> 00:03:59,983 the Air Force , in the airlines , um , 97 00:03:59,983 --> 00:04:02,259 with corporate aviation , and we're 98 00:04:02,259 --> 00:04:03,981 working to do our part to help 99 00:04:03,981 --> 00:04:06,139 alleviate that shortage . Civil Air 100 00:04:06,179 --> 00:04:08,529 Patrol or CA totally reserve , right ? 101 00:04:08,850 --> 00:04:11,500 Um , we're all volunteers , um , with a 102 00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:13,722 very few exceptions here in Oklahoma we 103 00:04:13,722 --> 00:04:16,410 have about 850 , um , and that's split 104 00:04:16,410 --> 00:04:19,440 pretty evenly between . Um , adults and 105 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,799 cadets , the youth , um , we have units 106 00:04:22,799 --> 00:04:25,920 in 19 different locations . Um , we 107 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,200 have 9 aircraft in the wing , um , two 108 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:30,978 of them are , are based here in 109 00:04:30,978 --> 00:04:33,033 Oklahoma City at this airport . Uh , 110 00:04:33,033 --> 00:04:35,144 the one behind you here is the Cessna 111 00:04:35,144 --> 00:04:36,978 182 . Um , it's a million dollar 112 00:04:36,978 --> 00:04:39,200 airplane , uh , the way that we have it 113 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,422 equipped , and the Air Force buys those 114 00:04:41,422 --> 00:04:43,644 airplanes for us , so they loan them to 115 00:04:43,644 --> 00:04:45,867 us . We take , uh , good care of them . 116 00:04:46,290 --> 00:04:48,519 Um , we fly the wings off of them here 117 00:04:48,519 --> 00:04:50,686 in Oklahoma . We flew about 1500 hours 118 00:04:50,686 --> 00:04:53,130 last year . Um , the goal for each 119 00:04:53,130 --> 00:04:56,480 airframe is 150 hours per year . 120 00:04:56,850 --> 00:04:58,628 Um , the Air Force pays for the 121 00:04:58,628 --> 00:05:01,250 maintenance , um , depending on what 122 00:05:01,250 --> 00:05:04,040 kind of a mission we're on , um , 123 00:05:04,049 --> 00:05:06,600 either the Air Force pays for that or 124 00:05:06,890 --> 00:05:09,570 the organization CAP corporate will pay 125 00:05:09,570 --> 00:05:11,792 for that . So , uh , we function as the 126 00:05:11,792 --> 00:05:14,014 Air Force's auxiliary when we are on an 127 00:05:14,014 --> 00:05:16,237 Air Force assigned mission . Um , we do 128 00:05:16,237 --> 00:05:18,348 things for the state and we do things 129 00:05:18,348 --> 00:05:20,600 for our local communities . It's really 130 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,000 peaceful out here at . I like it . Uh , 131 00:05:24,019 --> 00:05:26,239 occasionally you may hear a plane fly 132 00:05:26,239 --> 00:05:28,461 over . It's just , it's all part of the 133 00:05:28,461 --> 00:05:30,572 ambiance . It is , it is , and , um , 134 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:33,559 we are very aware that our planes are 135 00:05:33,559 --> 00:05:35,837 very distinctive . They're red , white , 136 00:05:35,837 --> 00:05:37,948 and blue . They say United States Air 137 00:05:37,948 --> 00:05:40,179 Force Auxiliary . Um , they say CAP on 138 00:05:40,179 --> 00:05:42,739 the top and bottom of the wings , and 139 00:05:42,739 --> 00:05:44,579 we are very aware that we're 140 00:05:44,579 --> 00:05:47,140 representing the Air Force , um , so 141 00:05:47,140 --> 00:05:49,459 when we taxi out of here , people will 142 00:05:49,459 --> 00:05:51,890 ask us , hey , what is CAP , um , 143 00:05:51,940 --> 00:05:54,230 what's it all about ? And , uh , we , 144 00:05:54,339 --> 00:05:56,450 we like to share that and , and we go 145 00:05:56,450 --> 00:05:59,019 to fly-ins across the state , um , the 146 00:05:59,019 --> 00:06:01,339 other wings , each state is a wing , so 147 00:06:01,339 --> 00:06:04,820 there are 52 wings in in CAP , um , but 148 00:06:04,820 --> 00:06:08,570 with each . Each wing will go out and 149 00:06:08,790 --> 00:06:10,957 fly the flags , so to speak . We go to 150 00:06:10,957 --> 00:06:13,123 air shows and fly-ins . We're gonna be 151 00:06:13,123 --> 00:06:15,346 at the big air show at Tinker . We were 152 00:06:15,346 --> 00:06:17,568 at the Altus Air Show last month . Um , 153 00:06:17,568 --> 00:06:19,734 we were at the Vance and the last time 154 00:06:19,734 --> 00:06:21,790 Vance had an air show was their 75th 155 00:06:21,790 --> 00:06:23,957 anniversary , uh , about 8 years ago . 156 00:06:23,957 --> 00:06:25,957 So , um , we go out and we show the 157 00:06:25,957 --> 00:06:28,068 flag , and , uh , we actually do more 158 00:06:28,068 --> 00:06:30,290 than that for the show at Tinker , um , 159 00:06:30,290 --> 00:06:32,234 which is , it's always fun for our 160 00:06:32,234 --> 00:06:34,579 people . Um , even though it's hot , um , 161 00:06:34,670 --> 00:06:37,380 but we'll have about 160 volunteers 162 00:06:37,709 --> 00:06:39,989 work in the air show , um , we'll have 163 00:06:39,989 --> 00:06:41,989 two aircraft on static display , an 164 00:06:41,989 --> 00:06:44,045 aircraft just like this , and then a 165 00:06:44,045 --> 00:06:46,156 172 , which is a little bit smaller , 166 00:06:46,156 --> 00:06:48,322 and then we have a third aircraft that 167 00:06:48,322 --> 00:06:50,429 actually flies and does photo 168 00:06:50,429 --> 00:06:52,429 documentation of the crowds and the 169 00:06:52,429 --> 00:06:54,950 traffic flow that we provide to the air 170 00:06:54,950 --> 00:06:56,728 show committee and the air show 171 00:06:56,728 --> 00:06:58,839 director . Um , so that they can help 172 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,061 for planning the show a couple of years 173 00:07:01,061 --> 00:07:03,228 down the road , yeah , yeah , you kind 174 00:07:03,228 --> 00:07:05,061 of , uh , worked it into my next 175 00:07:05,061 --> 00:07:07,172 question . My next question was , you 176 00:07:07,172 --> 00:07:07,029 know , what is the civil air patrol for 177 00:07:07,029 --> 00:07:09,470 somebody who is unfamiliar with it and 178 00:07:09,470 --> 00:07:11,637 yes , you do help out the base quite a 179 00:07:11,637 --> 00:07:13,959 bit with those aerial shots and . Uh , 180 00:07:14,019 --> 00:07:16,489 thank you for that . You bet . Uh , uh , 181 00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:18,778 yeah , so talk a little bit about what , 182 00:07:18,778 --> 00:07:20,833 uh , civil air patrol is for someone 183 00:07:20,833 --> 00:07:24,059 who may not be familiar with it or be 184 00:07:24,059 --> 00:07:27,220 happy to . Um , we have three basic 185 00:07:27,220 --> 00:07:30,640 programs . Um , one is cadet programs 186 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:32,807 which we , we discussed a little bit , 187 00:07:32,807 --> 00:07:35,140 but the idea there is to expose our 188 00:07:35,140 --> 00:07:38,980 cadets to . Um , the potential of a 189 00:07:38,980 --> 00:07:41,619 military career , if not something 190 00:07:41,619 --> 00:07:43,786 military , at least something aviation 191 00:07:43,786 --> 00:07:46,008 related , and if not aviation related , 192 00:07:46,008 --> 00:07:48,175 then something STEM related . That's , 193 00:07:48,175 --> 00:07:50,341 that's the focus there and in fact our 194 00:07:50,341 --> 00:07:52,341 cadets can gain their private pilot 195 00:07:52,341 --> 00:07:54,508 certificate totally at the Air Force's 196 00:07:54,508 --> 00:07:56,619 expense . That's fairly new . I think 197 00:07:56,619 --> 00:07:58,786 that program's only been in effect for 198 00:07:58,786 --> 00:08:00,952 about 5 years where they can do that . 199 00:08:00,952 --> 00:08:03,119 And then we also have uh a scholarship 200 00:08:03,119 --> 00:08:05,119 program for our youth uh called the 201 00:08:05,119 --> 00:08:07,286 Wings program which again is funded by 202 00:08:07,286 --> 00:08:09,175 the Air Force but if there aren't 203 00:08:09,175 --> 00:08:11,286 enough um civil air patrol instructor 204 00:08:11,286 --> 00:08:13,452 pilots around , they can go to a local 205 00:08:13,452 --> 00:08:15,675 flight school and the Air Force through 206 00:08:15,675 --> 00:08:18,369 CAP pays their , their , their bills , 207 00:08:18,450 --> 00:08:20,450 so to speak for all of their flight 208 00:08:20,450 --> 00:08:22,609 training , um , then we have um 209 00:08:22,609 --> 00:08:26,209 aerospace education and . AE 210 00:08:26,209 --> 00:08:29,609 can can take many different forms , um , 211 00:08:29,899 --> 00:08:32,849 anything from formal education 212 00:08:32,849 --> 00:08:34,849 regarding flying , whether it's the 213 00:08:34,849 --> 00:08:36,849 Wright brothers and all they did or 214 00:08:36,849 --> 00:08:39,071 Amelia Earhart and everything she did , 215 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,820 um , through we have a , a very robust 216 00:08:42,820 --> 00:08:45,159 small unmanned aerial system program . 217 00:08:45,489 --> 00:08:48,940 And um there are what we call STEM kits . 218 00:08:49,020 --> 00:08:51,979 There are about 32 of those and you can 219 00:08:51,979 --> 00:08:55,340 take one of those and build it and play 220 00:08:55,340 --> 00:08:57,380 with it , use it , um , each one of 221 00:08:57,380 --> 00:08:59,500 those kits illustrates something 222 00:08:59,500 --> 00:09:02,989 fundamental to STEM and you they can 223 00:09:02,989 --> 00:09:05,211 get another one once that one's built , 224 00:09:05,211 --> 00:09:07,156 all they have to do is fill out an 225 00:09:07,156 --> 00:09:09,267 evaluation of what they did with that 226 00:09:09,267 --> 00:09:11,489 kit and they can get another one . Um , 227 00:09:11,489 --> 00:09:13,711 and then we have emergency services and 228 00:09:13,711 --> 00:09:15,933 in Oklahoma ES , um , a lot of the time 229 00:09:15,933 --> 00:09:18,489 revolves around storm season , you know , 230 00:09:18,570 --> 00:09:20,514 we have a pretty robust and active 231 00:09:20,514 --> 00:09:22,459 spring and then there's the second 232 00:09:22,459 --> 00:09:24,880 season that we have in the late fall . 233 00:09:25,340 --> 00:09:29,289 Um , last year we flew 86 hours in 234 00:09:29,289 --> 00:09:32,770 support of NOAA and FEMA , um , doing 235 00:09:32,770 --> 00:09:34,937 storm damage assessment and what we do 236 00:09:34,937 --> 00:09:37,359 is we have several different , um , 237 00:09:37,369 --> 00:09:40,229 photo imagery . Devices . One is at at 238 00:09:40,229 --> 00:09:44,109 your typical DSLR um that we can 239 00:09:44,109 --> 00:09:46,165 stick out the photographic window of 240 00:09:46,165 --> 00:09:48,387 this aircraft . Another tool we have is 241 00:09:48,387 --> 00:09:50,799 called Waldo , and Waldo is a 3D 242 00:09:50,799 --> 00:09:52,966 imaging device that we strap on one of 243 00:09:52,966 --> 00:09:56,669 the struts and , um , we fly a very 244 00:09:56,669 --> 00:10:00,260 specific pattern and that unit is able 245 00:10:00,260 --> 00:10:03,489 to assess structural integrity . If 246 00:10:03,489 --> 00:10:05,940 there were an overpass or an earthen 247 00:10:05,940 --> 00:10:08,890 dam where um some of that earth had 248 00:10:08,890 --> 00:10:10,779 been moved because of flooding or 249 00:10:10,779 --> 00:10:12,834 whatever , it can calculate how much 250 00:10:12,834 --> 00:10:15,250 cubic feet of soil would be required to 251 00:10:15,250 --> 00:10:18,280 re-stabilize . Um , it's a very useful 252 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,330 tool and FEMA is , um , they love us 253 00:10:21,330 --> 00:10:24,349 for that , um . It it's a very it's the 254 00:10:24,349 --> 00:10:26,349 unit itself is not very expensive . 255 00:10:26,349 --> 00:10:28,590 It's only about $50,000 . It's the data 256 00:10:28,590 --> 00:10:30,646 processing where the , the real cost 257 00:10:30,646 --> 00:10:32,869 comes in . So it's , it's , um , those 258 00:10:32,869 --> 00:10:35,669 are our three main programs , um , and 259 00:10:35,669 --> 00:10:38,150 I would say that the most rewarding is 260 00:10:38,150 --> 00:10:40,510 all of them . Um , because there are 261 00:10:40,510 --> 00:10:42,390 things that , um , each of our 262 00:10:42,390 --> 00:10:45,229 volunteers may have , they may do like 263 00:10:45,229 --> 00:10:48,349 what you did in the real world where 264 00:10:48,349 --> 00:10:50,349 you were , um , um , a journalist . 265 00:10:50,549 --> 00:10:52,605 They may be a journalist or a public 266 00:10:52,605 --> 00:10:54,771 affairs person in the real world , but 267 00:10:54,771 --> 00:10:56,938 they want to do something different to 268 00:10:56,938 --> 00:10:58,993 give back to their community . So we 269 00:10:58,993 --> 00:11:01,271 have all these programs where they can . 270 00:11:01,271 --> 00:11:03,271 Um , give back to their community , 271 00:11:03,271 --> 00:11:05,438 state and nation . Is there a disaster 272 00:11:05,438 --> 00:11:07,493 or a response or something like that 273 00:11:07,493 --> 00:11:09,716 working with civil air patrol that kind 274 00:11:09,716 --> 00:11:11,660 of sticks in your mind ? Oh yeah , 275 00:11:11,660 --> 00:11:13,771 Hurricane Harvey would be a big one , 276 00:11:13,771 --> 00:11:16,105 but here in Oklahoma , the more tornado , 277 00:11:16,105 --> 00:11:18,650 um , was what , 20 years ago , um , 13 , 278 00:11:19,229 --> 00:11:21,349 yeah , yeah , that was a massive 279 00:11:21,349 --> 00:11:23,630 response effort . Um , we had ground 280 00:11:23,630 --> 00:11:25,929 teams . A lot of our ground teams were 281 00:11:25,929 --> 00:11:27,540 going in and they were photo 282 00:11:27,540 --> 00:11:30,690 documenting addresses um so that FEMA 283 00:11:30,690 --> 00:11:33,250 knew how to allocate resources to 284 00:11:33,250 --> 00:11:36,080 rebuild and and uh that that was a 285 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,760 massive effort . um Hurricane Harvey , 286 00:11:38,770 --> 00:11:41,239 there were , it was a regional response , 287 00:11:41,609 --> 00:11:43,530 um , uh , you know , the incident 288 00:11:43,530 --> 00:11:45,710 command post that we were working from 289 00:11:46,090 --> 00:11:48,312 started out in the San Antonio area and 290 00:11:48,312 --> 00:11:50,312 then moved back down in the Houston 291 00:11:50,312 --> 00:11:52,534 area as things cleaned up and power was 292 00:11:52,534 --> 00:11:54,368 restored , but . Um , there were 293 00:11:54,368 --> 00:11:56,423 hundreds of thousands of images that 294 00:11:56,423 --> 00:11:58,840 were collected for Harvey and provided 295 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,007 to FEMA and the state of Texas to help 296 00:12:01,007 --> 00:12:04,880 rebuild those things , um . When you 297 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,102 do those things , whether you're in the 298 00:12:07,102 --> 00:12:09,102 aircraft as part of the air crew or 299 00:12:09,102 --> 00:12:11,799 you're part of the mission staff um on 300 00:12:11,799 --> 00:12:14,239 the ground , it's so rewarding to be 301 00:12:14,239 --> 00:12:17,000 able to give back to your your local 302 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,270 communities um . I , I , I can't even 303 00:12:20,270 --> 00:12:22,270 describe the feeling you get . It's 304 00:12:22,270 --> 00:12:24,437 just a really , it's why we do what we 305 00:12:24,437 --> 00:12:26,326 do , I guess , and , and a former 306 00:12:26,326 --> 00:12:28,381 national commander used to call that 307 00:12:28,381 --> 00:12:30,548 signing the volunteer paycheck so that 308 00:12:30,548 --> 00:12:30,390 they know that what they're doing and 309 00:12:30,390 --> 00:12:33,150 what they train for is worthwhile doing 310 00:12:33,150 --> 00:12:35,190 and training for . It's one thing 311 00:12:35,190 --> 00:12:37,412 seeing that level of destruction on the 312 00:12:37,412 --> 00:12:39,523 ground , but it hits different in the 313 00:12:39,523 --> 00:12:41,690 air , doesn't it ? It does . It really 314 00:12:41,690 --> 00:12:43,857 does , um , a couple of , I guess it's 315 00:12:43,857 --> 00:12:46,079 been about 8 or 9 years ago now when we 316 00:12:46,079 --> 00:12:45,669 had massive flooding down in the 317 00:12:45,669 --> 00:12:47,780 southern part of the state . And even 318 00:12:47,780 --> 00:12:49,891 just recently , um , I flew down over 319 00:12:49,891 --> 00:12:52,590 Lake Texoma . um , it's incredible the 320 00:12:52,590 --> 00:12:54,701 amount of water that's down there and 321 00:12:54,701 --> 00:12:57,109 you just , you can't imagine it until 322 00:12:57,109 --> 00:12:59,053 you see it from the air . I mean , 323 00:12:59,053 --> 00:13:01,109 seeing it from the ground is you get 324 00:13:01,109 --> 00:13:03,331 this limited perspective , but from the 325 00:13:03,331 --> 00:13:05,498 air . Um , it's , it's so widespread , 326 00:13:05,659 --> 00:13:08,299 it's just incredible , yeah , uh , for 327 00:13:08,299 --> 00:13:10,132 parents listening to this , uh , 328 00:13:10,132 --> 00:13:12,299 students listening to this looking for 329 00:13:12,299 --> 00:13:14,340 their next career , they think they 330 00:13:14,340 --> 00:13:16,900 might have the aviation bug in them as 331 00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:20,090 well . Why is civil air patrol , uh , 332 00:13:20,099 --> 00:13:22,580 one of the best ways to get exposure to 333 00:13:22,580 --> 00:13:25,419 aviation ? Well , it's , it's it's an 334 00:13:25,419 --> 00:13:29,260 outstanding way to learn a little bit 335 00:13:29,260 --> 00:13:32,530 about the military . Um , and of course 336 00:13:32,530 --> 00:13:34,641 we're being the Air Force auxiliary , 337 00:13:34,641 --> 00:13:36,697 we , we steer people towards the Air 338 00:13:36,697 --> 00:13:38,919 Force . Um , you get that little bit of 339 00:13:38,919 --> 00:13:40,808 exposure about drill and physical 340 00:13:40,808 --> 00:13:42,919 fitness and our cadets have to , as , 341 00:13:42,919 --> 00:13:45,280 as they advance in rank , um , they are 342 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,179 tested on aerospace education so they 343 00:13:48,179 --> 00:13:51,039 learn about the pioneers of flight , um , 344 00:13:51,619 --> 00:13:53,786 they have to pass a physical test , so 345 00:13:53,786 --> 00:13:56,140 physical fitness is stress and then . 346 00:13:57,130 --> 00:13:59,849 You you go through a um a board , a 347 00:13:59,849 --> 00:14:03,609 promotion board , um , that asks kind 348 00:14:03,609 --> 00:14:05,929 of off , not off the wall but offhanded 349 00:14:05,929 --> 00:14:08,330 questions that the cadets have to be 350 00:14:08,330 --> 00:14:10,386 prepared to answer . So it , it , it 351 00:14:10,386 --> 00:14:12,552 teaches them to think on their feet as 352 00:14:12,552 --> 00:14:14,386 well . All of those things are , 353 00:14:14,650 --> 00:14:16,706 especially the thinking on your feet 354 00:14:16,706 --> 00:14:18,872 are very important when you get in the 355 00:14:18,872 --> 00:14:20,761 cockpit of an airplane because it 356 00:14:20,761 --> 00:14:22,706 doesn't always go just the way you 357 00:14:22,706 --> 00:14:24,928 planned it . So you have to be prepared 358 00:14:24,928 --> 00:14:26,928 to handle emergencies . You have to 359 00:14:26,928 --> 00:14:26,840 train for those , and you gotta 360 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:29,640 remember to stay calm under stress . 361 00:14:30,090 --> 00:14:32,640 All of those programs help develop that . 362 00:14:32,969 --> 00:14:35,320 The other cool thing in my opinion 363 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,250 about our cadet program is , um , it , 364 00:14:38,530 --> 00:14:42,210 if a , if a young person joins , they 365 00:14:42,210 --> 00:14:44,320 are expected to promote or they can 366 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:48,200 promote about every 57 to 59 days . Um , 367 00:14:48,330 --> 00:14:50,520 it takes about 2 years to go from 368 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:54,270 Airman Basic . To cadet 2nd lieutenant , 369 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,431 and that award is called the Mitchell 370 00:14:56,431 --> 00:14:58,598 Award . It's named after General Billy 371 00:14:58,598 --> 00:15:00,764 Mitchell , who was an Air Force icon , 372 00:15:00,764 --> 00:15:03,239 um , and if they achieve their Mitchell 373 00:15:03,239 --> 00:15:05,400 Award and they decide they want to 374 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:07,567 enlist in the military , they're going 375 00:15:07,567 --> 00:15:10,520 in as an E3 as opposed to an E1 , so 376 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:12,989 they get a few extra $100 in their pay 377 00:15:12,989 --> 00:15:14,878 envelope every month , and that's 378 00:15:14,878 --> 00:15:17,045 pretty significant as a young person . 379 00:15:17,045 --> 00:15:18,933 They also , if they achieve their 380 00:15:18,933 --> 00:15:21,229 Mitchell , if they're going to apply 381 00:15:21,229 --> 00:15:23,469 for an ROTC scholarship or they wanna 382 00:15:23,469 --> 00:15:26,590 go to one of the academies , on at most 383 00:15:26,590 --> 00:15:28,719 universities there's a drop down that 384 00:15:28,719 --> 00:15:30,886 says , OK , were you a member of Civil 385 00:15:30,886 --> 00:15:33,108 Air Patrol ? And if you answer yes , it 386 00:15:33,108 --> 00:15:35,163 says did you achieve your . Mitchell 387 00:15:35,163 --> 00:15:37,275 Award and if you say yes , that opens 388 00:15:37,275 --> 00:15:39,441 the door to a whole lot of other , you 389 00:15:39,441 --> 00:15:41,552 know , possibilities . Um , about 10% 390 00:15:41,552 --> 00:15:43,719 of the entering class at the Air Force 391 00:15:43,719 --> 00:15:45,608 Academy every year are former CAP 392 00:15:45,608 --> 00:15:47,570 cadets . Uh , right now I'm really 393 00:15:47,570 --> 00:15:49,880 pleased to say that we have two , 394 00:15:51,330 --> 00:15:53,386 Of our former well they're still our 395 00:15:53,386 --> 00:15:55,497 cadets , they will soon be our former 396 00:15:55,497 --> 00:15:57,552 cadets . They'll be entering the Air 397 00:15:57,552 --> 00:15:59,719 Force Academy this fall as part of the 398 00:15:59,719 --> 00:16:01,997 class of 27 , I think it is , but , um , 399 00:16:01,997 --> 00:16:04,719 it , it , it shows that they can finish 400 00:16:04,719 --> 00:16:06,830 something that they've started . They 401 00:16:06,830 --> 00:16:09,052 know how to lead , um , because we give 402 00:16:09,052 --> 00:16:10,719 them more and more leadership 403 00:16:10,719 --> 00:16:12,608 responsibilities as they progress 404 00:16:12,608 --> 00:16:14,663 through the through the program . So 405 00:16:14,663 --> 00:16:16,608 it's all about developing the next 406 00:16:16,608 --> 00:16:18,830 generation of Air Force leaders , civic 407 00:16:18,830 --> 00:16:21,830 leaders , um , it's a , it's a great 408 00:16:21,830 --> 00:16:23,886 program and not a lot of people know 409 00:16:23,886 --> 00:16:25,719 about it . I see this as like an 410 00:16:25,719 --> 00:16:27,886 extracurricular activity at school . I 411 00:16:27,886 --> 00:16:30,052 was in the broadcast club , uh , I did 412 00:16:30,052 --> 00:16:32,108 a little bit of sprinting . Uh , are 413 00:16:32,108 --> 00:16:34,274 you guys involved in schools regularly 414 00:16:34,274 --> 00:16:36,330 as well ? Yeah , we are in fact , we 415 00:16:36,330 --> 00:16:38,441 have , uh , a , we call it a flight , 416 00:16:38,441 --> 00:16:40,274 but the , uh , Oklahoma Aviation 417 00:16:40,274 --> 00:16:42,219 Academy down as part of the Norman 418 00:16:42,219 --> 00:16:44,386 Public Schools . We have a school unit 419 00:16:44,386 --> 00:16:46,497 there . And they meet , um , and they 420 00:16:46,497 --> 00:16:48,552 call it zero , their first period in 421 00:16:48,552 --> 00:16:48,239 the morning . They come in a little 422 00:16:48,239 --> 00:16:51,159 early and they wear the same uniforms 423 00:16:51,159 --> 00:16:53,326 that our cadets do . They have a color 424 00:16:53,326 --> 00:16:55,492 guard . In fact , they , um , they are 425 00:16:55,492 --> 00:16:57,659 about to stand up and become their own 426 00:16:57,659 --> 00:16:59,960 squadron . So they have really come 427 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:01,904 along , um , they were established 428 00:17:01,904 --> 00:17:04,182 about a year and a half ago , and , um , 429 00:17:04,182 --> 00:17:06,238 you know , the Governor Stitt has an 430 00:17:06,238 --> 00:17:08,839 emphasis on aviation as the economic 431 00:17:08,839 --> 00:17:11,000 sector in the state wants that to be 432 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,000 number one . Um , we're right there 433 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:14,944 with him . We're all about it , so 434 00:17:14,944 --> 00:17:17,459 anything we can do to help , um , we 435 00:17:17,459 --> 00:17:19,681 have a flight academy in the summer for 436 00:17:19,681 --> 00:17:21,792 cadets , and that's not just Oklahoma 437 00:17:21,792 --> 00:17:24,180 wing cadets . Um , we hold it in Ada in 438 00:17:24,180 --> 00:17:27,319 June . It's a weeklong deal . Last year 439 00:17:27,319 --> 00:17:29,420 there were , uh , 20 students there 440 00:17:29,420 --> 00:17:31,587 from around the country . There were 3 441 00:17:31,587 --> 00:17:34,060 from Oklahoma of the 2016 of them 442 00:17:34,060 --> 00:17:36,680 soloed , um , that's a pretty amazing 443 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,449 percentage . And even if you're not 444 00:17:39,449 --> 00:17:41,560 interested in flying , is this a good 445 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:43,782 way to get involved ? Like if I want to 446 00:17:43,782 --> 00:17:45,838 become an air traffic controller , a 447 00:17:45,838 --> 00:17:48,060 good way to get exposed to the , yeah , 448 00:17:48,060 --> 00:17:50,338 and , and I mean you're right , um , I , 449 00:17:50,338 --> 00:17:52,890 I happen to feel that it's , it's a 450 00:17:52,890 --> 00:17:55,057 good thing for air traffic controllers 451 00:17:55,057 --> 00:17:57,168 to at least have flown in an airplane 452 00:17:57,168 --> 00:17:59,530 to see what it's like , um , so yeah , 453 00:17:59,770 --> 00:18:02,219 they , uh , we asked them . They get 5 454 00:18:02,219 --> 00:18:04,219 rides in the aircraft where they're 455 00:18:04,219 --> 00:18:06,441 actually handling the controls , and we 456 00:18:06,441 --> 00:18:08,552 ask that they at least give it a shot 457 00:18:08,552 --> 00:18:10,608 and um they may not be interested in 458 00:18:10,608 --> 00:18:12,830 becoming pilots , but at least they see 459 00:18:12,830 --> 00:18:14,997 what it's like up there and um we , we 460 00:18:14,997 --> 00:18:17,052 take the you know we're really lucky 461 00:18:17,052 --> 00:18:19,275 here we've got the Monroney Center here 462 00:18:19,275 --> 00:18:21,163 and and the uh flight controllers 463 00:18:21,163 --> 00:18:23,275 academy . OU does , uh , um , they're 464 00:18:23,275 --> 00:18:25,275 one of the , I think there's only 4 465 00:18:25,275 --> 00:18:27,108 universities in the country that 466 00:18:27,108 --> 00:18:30,790 they're . Um , ATC school , their 467 00:18:30,790 --> 00:18:32,679 graduates don't have to go to the 468 00:18:32,679 --> 00:18:34,623 academy . They go immediately to a 469 00:18:34,623 --> 00:18:36,734 tower for their on the job training . 470 00:18:36,734 --> 00:18:38,800 Um , I , I think it's important that 471 00:18:39,069 --> 00:18:41,459 our cadets see that side of it as well , 472 00:18:41,780 --> 00:18:44,839 so we take them to , um , the recon 473 00:18:44,839 --> 00:18:47,006 here at Oklahoma City . Well , we , we 474 00:18:47,006 --> 00:18:49,030 had a pilot clinic at Tinker that 475 00:18:49,030 --> 00:18:51,252 included some of our cadet pilots , and 476 00:18:51,252 --> 00:18:53,252 we took everybody up in the control 477 00:18:53,252 --> 00:18:55,474 tower . Um , they see what it takes and 478 00:18:55,474 --> 00:18:57,697 it's , it's , I think it's very helpful 479 00:18:57,697 --> 00:18:59,363 for controllers and pilots to 480 00:18:59,363 --> 00:19:01,586 understand what the other side is going 481 00:19:01,586 --> 00:19:03,697 through . Uh , you did talk about how 482 00:19:03,697 --> 00:19:05,863 civil air patrol supports the state of 483 00:19:05,863 --> 00:19:08,030 Oklahoma , supports Tinker , but . You 484 00:19:08,030 --> 00:19:10,864 know there are opportunities outside of 485 00:19:10,864 --> 00:19:13,185 Oklahoma as well . uh , Civil Air 486 00:19:13,224 --> 00:19:15,305 Patrol helps the Air Force on a 487 00:19:15,305 --> 00:19:17,361 national level . We do , uh , talk a 488 00:19:17,361 --> 00:19:19,775 bit about that . So we provide , um , 489 00:19:20,064 --> 00:19:22,397 several things mainly with the aircraft , 490 00:19:22,397 --> 00:19:25,224 um , and I'm gonna use Oklahoma as an 491 00:19:25,224 --> 00:19:27,113 example for what we do across the 492 00:19:27,113 --> 00:19:29,224 country . Um , the 138th fighter wing 493 00:19:29,224 --> 00:19:31,900 in Tulsa , Oklahoma National Guard . Um , 494 00:19:31,959 --> 00:19:34,359 they fly the Viper F-16s and they 495 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:36,640 deployed down to Ellington Air Force 496 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,479 Base in Houston and they stand watch 497 00:19:40,479 --> 00:19:44,199 down there , um , and to the best of my 498 00:19:44,199 --> 00:19:46,421 knowledge they have not allowed anybody 499 00:19:46,421 --> 00:19:48,643 from Texas over the Red River . They're 500 00:19:48,643 --> 00:19:51,560 doing a great job , but a lot of what 501 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,727 they do and , and this has been in the 502 00:19:53,727 --> 00:19:56,400 news recently regarding Mr . Trump's 503 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,869 Mar a Lago resort where there's . Um , 504 00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:00,991 we call it a TFR , a temporary flight 505 00:20:00,991 --> 00:20:03,239 restriction . When he is there , there 506 00:20:03,239 --> 00:20:05,880 is a temporary flight restriction over 507 00:20:06,339 --> 00:20:09,729 Mar a Lago and sometimes private pilots 508 00:20:09,729 --> 00:20:12,410 in particular don't pay attention to 509 00:20:12,410 --> 00:20:14,319 the latest TFRs , and they'll go 510 00:20:14,319 --> 00:20:16,650 blundering in there and then always 511 00:20:16,650 --> 00:20:18,706 gets them a visit from the Air Force 512 00:20:18,706 --> 00:20:20,872 while they're in the air . Um , well , 513 00:20:20,872 --> 00:20:23,640 it takes , um , practice for fire 514 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,109 pilots to be able to fly . Low enough 515 00:20:26,469 --> 00:20:28,880 to not just go rip and buy those GA 516 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,579 aircraft . So , um , we've been working 517 00:20:31,579 --> 00:20:34,989 with the 138 and their F-16s to help 518 00:20:34,989 --> 00:20:37,270 the newer pilots understand what it 519 00:20:37,270 --> 00:20:39,989 takes to do low and slow intercepts of 520 00:20:39,989 --> 00:20:42,439 aircraft like this Cessna 182 sitting 521 00:20:42,439 --> 00:20:44,750 behind us . It takes a lot of practice 522 00:20:44,750 --> 00:20:46,861 for them to do , so we provide that . 523 00:20:46,949 --> 00:20:49,390 We do low level route surveys , um . 524 00:20:49,819 --> 00:20:51,986 And again I'm gonna use Oklahoma as an 525 00:20:51,986 --> 00:20:54,041 example because we have two training 526 00:20:54,041 --> 00:20:56,263 bases here in the state , Van Air Force 527 00:20:56,263 --> 00:20:58,263 Base and Altus Air Force Base , and 528 00:20:58,263 --> 00:21:00,729 they both have low level training 529 00:21:00,729 --> 00:21:03,170 routes out of the base . Um , well , if 530 00:21:03,170 --> 00:21:06,670 you're flying , um , a T62 531 00:21:07,089 --> 00:21:09,250 or a T-38 out of Vance and you're 532 00:21:09,250 --> 00:21:11,306 ripping around low level , you don't 533 00:21:11,306 --> 00:21:13,361 have a lot of time to be looking for 534 00:21:13,361 --> 00:21:15,583 obstructions . Same thing down at Altus 535 00:21:15,583 --> 00:21:17,739 if you're flying a C-17 . And you're 536 00:21:17,739 --> 00:21:19,850 doing these low level training routes 537 00:21:19,850 --> 00:21:22,072 at several 100 knots , you don't always 538 00:21:22,072 --> 00:21:24,295 see something until it's like , uh oh , 539 00:21:24,295 --> 00:21:26,183 what was that we just hit ? So we 540 00:21:26,183 --> 00:21:28,350 perform low level route surveys across 541 00:21:28,350 --> 00:21:30,239 the country for Air Force bases , 542 00:21:30,239 --> 00:21:32,461 making sure that there are no uncharted 543 00:21:32,461 --> 00:21:34,628 obstructions for the training routes , 544 00:21:34,628 --> 00:21:36,461 um , as our new pilots are being 545 00:21:36,461 --> 00:21:38,628 trained and our experienced pilots are 546 00:21:38,628 --> 00:21:40,906 are maintaining their proficiency . Um , 547 00:21:40,906 --> 00:21:43,000 we also provide , and we do this at 548 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:45,111 Tinker in particular , but I , I know 549 00:21:45,111 --> 00:21:47,111 it also happens at other places . I 550 00:21:47,111 --> 00:21:49,333 mentioned earlier we have a very robust 551 00:21:49,333 --> 00:21:51,650 small unmanned aerial system program . 552 00:21:52,020 --> 00:21:55,540 Um , we work with Tinker and we use our 553 00:21:55,540 --> 00:21:57,619 drones to try and penetrate the 554 00:21:57,619 --> 00:22:00,060 airspace , so we give security forces a 555 00:22:00,060 --> 00:22:02,227 good workout . They're chomping at the 556 00:22:02,227 --> 00:22:04,504 bit to shoot one of ours down and they , 557 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,420 we , no , we , we tell them no , we 558 00:22:07,420 --> 00:22:11,035 need those . Um , but , um , it's great 559 00:22:11,035 --> 00:22:13,675 training for security forces and for 560 00:22:13,675 --> 00:22:16,755 our people so that they can operate in 561 00:22:16,755 --> 00:22:18,866 close proximity when required . Yes , 562 00:22:18,866 --> 00:22:21,344 so not just aircraft drones too , and 563 00:22:21,344 --> 00:22:23,734 the drones , so to be an air crew 564 00:22:23,734 --> 00:22:26,680 member you have to be 18 . Um , to be a 565 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:28,959 drone operator for us , there is no age 566 00:22:28,959 --> 00:22:31,560 limit , so the cadets can do that , and 567 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:33,616 they do . We have several cadets who 568 00:22:33,616 --> 00:22:35,727 are , you know , they have their Part 569 00:22:35,727 --> 00:22:37,727 107 license from the FAA , and then 570 00:22:37,727 --> 00:22:39,782 they're certified with us as well to 571 00:22:39,782 --> 00:22:41,893 operate the drones . Yeah , I do want 572 00:22:41,893 --> 00:22:43,838 to talk about , uh , the civil air 573 00:22:43,838 --> 00:22:46,004 patrol , their core values integrity , 574 00:22:46,239 --> 00:22:48,461 volunteer service . You talked a little 575 00:22:48,461 --> 00:22:51,800 bit about excellence and respect . Uh , 576 00:22:51,949 --> 00:22:54,670 why are those core values so important ? 577 00:22:54,739 --> 00:22:56,850 It's pretty obvious , but yeah , it , 578 00:22:56,850 --> 00:22:58,961 it is , and they're based off the Air 579 00:22:58,961 --> 00:23:00,961 Force's core values , and in fact I 580 00:23:00,961 --> 00:23:02,906 like the way the Air Force puts it 581 00:23:02,906 --> 00:23:05,072 better when they say integrity first , 582 00:23:05,072 --> 00:23:07,183 if you have integrity , and of course 583 00:23:07,183 --> 00:23:09,350 there's that kind of cliche definition 584 00:23:09,350 --> 00:23:11,517 of integrity and doing the right thing 585 00:23:11,517 --> 00:23:13,517 when nobody's looking , um , in our 586 00:23:13,517 --> 00:23:15,517 world today , integrity seems to be 587 00:23:15,517 --> 00:23:17,683 kind of a rare gem . If you will , and 588 00:23:17,683 --> 00:23:19,850 we try and instill , uh , integrity in 589 00:23:19,850 --> 00:23:22,072 all of our members and that means doing 590 00:23:22,072 --> 00:23:24,189 the right thing all the time , um , 591 00:23:24,239 --> 00:23:26,839 whether it's treating people with 592 00:23:26,839 --> 00:23:28,829 respect and then that goes to our 593 00:23:29,349 --> 00:23:31,660 respect core value , um , and , and , 594 00:23:31,670 --> 00:23:34,000 and personally I , I like to think that 595 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,167 if you have integrity . The rest of it 596 00:23:36,167 --> 00:23:38,222 falls in line , right ? So integrity 597 00:23:38,222 --> 00:23:41,589 means doing um what you are expected to 598 00:23:41,589 --> 00:23:44,260 do cleaning an aircraft after you land , 599 00:23:44,630 --> 00:23:47,430 treating cadets with respect , cadets 600 00:23:47,430 --> 00:23:49,597 treating each other with respect , you 601 00:23:49,597 --> 00:23:51,430 know , it's , it's the world has 602 00:23:51,430 --> 00:23:53,550 changed from the days um of the 603 00:23:53,550 --> 00:23:55,717 stereotypical drill instructor getting 604 00:23:55,717 --> 00:23:57,939 in your face and screaming at you until 605 00:23:57,939 --> 00:23:59,883 you cried . um , it's a little bit 606 00:23:59,883 --> 00:24:02,670 different these days and um we don't 607 00:24:02,670 --> 00:24:05,939 allow , we don't tolerate . Um , hazing , 608 00:24:06,189 --> 00:24:08,900 uh , not just adult members hazing 609 00:24:08,900 --> 00:24:11,619 cadets , but cadets hazing each other , 610 00:24:11,869 --> 00:24:13,980 um , that's counterproductive to what 611 00:24:13,980 --> 00:24:16,589 we do , um , and again it goes to that 612 00:24:16,589 --> 00:24:19,020 signing the volunteers' paycheck , um , 613 00:24:19,469 --> 00:24:22,089 when you do things with integrity with 614 00:24:22,089 --> 00:24:24,589 respect , uh , volunteer service , you 615 00:24:24,589 --> 00:24:26,478 know , and the Air Force puts its 616 00:24:26,478 --> 00:24:28,700 service before itself , that's what our 617 00:24:28,700 --> 00:24:30,949 whole organization is based on . That's 618 00:24:30,949 --> 00:24:34,660 why we exist is to serve others . Um , 619 00:24:34,810 --> 00:24:38,560 not everybody is cut out for CAP . Um , 620 00:24:38,650 --> 00:24:40,872 not everybody's cut out to serve in the 621 00:24:40,872 --> 00:24:42,983 military , and that's OK . It is OK , 622 00:24:42,983 --> 00:24:45,094 and there's nothing wrong with that , 623 00:24:45,094 --> 00:24:47,094 but you need to understand , if you 624 00:24:47,094 --> 00:24:49,300 sign up to serve with us , there are 625 00:24:49,300 --> 00:24:51,290 expectations and the expectations 626 00:24:51,290 --> 00:24:53,410 include that you're going to serve in 627 00:24:53,410 --> 00:24:55,521 an honorable fashion and you're gonna 628 00:24:55,521 --> 00:24:57,688 put others before yourself . I've been 629 00:24:57,688 --> 00:25:00,449 asked by a cadet actually about what 630 00:25:00,449 --> 00:25:02,505 it's like to be the wing commander . 631 00:25:02,505 --> 00:25:04,671 And I'd never thought of that before , 632 00:25:04,671 --> 00:25:08,280 um , but the answer is , um , and I 633 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:10,169 think Colonel Rosetta would would 634 00:25:10,169 --> 00:25:12,336 appreciate this because I see a lot of 635 00:25:12,336 --> 00:25:15,310 things that she does that I emulate , 636 00:25:15,439 --> 00:25:17,680 um , when she's out meeting with the 637 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,290 troops she's always smiling , right ? 638 00:25:20,390 --> 00:25:22,557 Um , it's always that praise in public 639 00:25:22,557 --> 00:25:24,790 part and you're building up the morale 640 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:27,207 and you're showing that the boss cares 641 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:30,880 so I told this cadet , um . I take it 642 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,560 very seriously that I represent 850 643 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:37,800 of you and I get all the bouquets from 644 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,869 higher up when you do well , which is 645 00:25:40,869 --> 00:25:43,989 why I always pass that along about how 646 00:25:43,989 --> 00:25:46,719 proud I am and what a great job you're 647 00:25:46,719 --> 00:25:49,369 doing . And by the same token , I also 648 00:25:49,369 --> 00:25:51,480 get the rockets when things are going 649 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:53,609 off the rails a little bit . Well , I 650 00:25:53,609 --> 00:25:56,609 don't share that with everybody that's 651 00:25:56,609 --> 00:25:59,010 behind closed doors and we work on 652 00:25:59,010 --> 00:26:01,050 doing things better . We are a 653 00:26:01,050 --> 00:26:03,369 volunteer organization and not 654 00:26:03,369 --> 00:26:06,329 everybody understands the expectations , 655 00:26:06,449 --> 00:26:09,530 so that's my job through my staff and 656 00:26:09,530 --> 00:26:12,410 my intent , um , to help them learn 657 00:26:12,410 --> 00:26:14,577 that and then if they still don't want 658 00:26:14,577 --> 00:26:16,799 to do it , OK , thanks for showing up . 659 00:26:16,799 --> 00:26:19,021 Um , see you next time . Yeah , so if , 660 00:26:19,021 --> 00:26:21,077 if , uh , there are people out there 661 00:26:21,077 --> 00:26:23,132 listening to this , whether you're a 662 00:26:23,132 --> 00:26:23,010 student , whether you're an adult , uh , 663 00:26:23,020 --> 00:26:25,420 with a full-time working job that , you 664 00:26:25,420 --> 00:26:27,642 know , CAP is starting to check all the 665 00:26:27,642 --> 00:26:29,642 boxes here are pretty interested in 666 00:26:29,642 --> 00:26:31,864 joining , uh , what are the steps to do 667 00:26:31,864 --> 00:26:34,087 so ? So the first thing to do is find a 668 00:26:34,087 --> 00:26:36,142 local unit , uh , and you do that by 669 00:26:36,142 --> 00:26:39,089 going to goivviairpatrol.com . And 670 00:26:39,099 --> 00:26:41,155 there is a unit locator on there and 671 00:26:41,155 --> 00:26:43,459 there's also an FAQ section about um 672 00:26:43,459 --> 00:26:45,681 how to join as an adult , what it takes 673 00:26:45,681 --> 00:26:49,579 to be a pilot um parents FAQs for 674 00:26:49,579 --> 00:26:52,260 prospective cadets um we do things a 675 00:26:52,260 --> 00:26:54,316 little bit differently between adult 676 00:26:54,316 --> 00:26:57,250 members and cadet members . Each unit 677 00:26:57,459 --> 00:27:00,979 um follows the same steps every week 678 00:27:00,979 --> 00:27:03,020 and that say the first week of the 679 00:27:03,020 --> 00:27:05,020 month would be what they call blues 680 00:27:05,020 --> 00:27:06,964 night when they're wearing service 681 00:27:06,964 --> 00:27:09,187 dress . Those are promotions , awards , 682 00:27:09,339 --> 00:27:11,780 kind of a job well done , way to go 683 00:27:11,780 --> 00:27:14,650 team , um , and they may do aerospace 684 00:27:14,650 --> 00:27:16,872 education that night as well because it 685 00:27:16,872 --> 00:27:18,983 doesn't require a physical activity . 686 00:27:18,983 --> 00:27:21,150 Then there'll be a PT night where they 687 00:27:21,150 --> 00:27:23,372 show up in PT gear and they do physical 688 00:27:23,372 --> 00:27:25,539 training . Um , and then there will be 689 00:27:25,539 --> 00:27:27,594 an ES night where they're working on 690 00:27:27,594 --> 00:27:29,650 certain qualifications for emergency 691 00:27:29,650 --> 00:27:31,761 services . And in those nights , um , 692 00:27:31,761 --> 00:27:35,030 we still wear air battle uniforms . um 693 00:27:35,199 --> 00:27:37,599 OCPs are coming , I've been told 694 00:27:37,599 --> 00:27:39,719 probably around Christmas , so we're 695 00:27:39,719 --> 00:27:41,830 gonna look a lot more like , um , our 696 00:27:41,830 --> 00:27:44,052 brothers and sisters in the Air Force . 697 00:27:44,052 --> 00:27:46,052 One of our requirements is that our 698 00:27:46,052 --> 00:27:48,275 uniforms be distinctive and sometimes , 699 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:50,581 um , people , and especially when we're 700 00:27:50,581 --> 00:27:52,839 all wearing ABUs and we would have 701 00:27:52,839 --> 00:27:54,895 cadets on the flight line at the air 702 00:27:54,895 --> 00:27:56,783 show . One of the things I always 703 00:27:56,783 --> 00:27:58,780 stressed was you need to be 704 00:27:58,780 --> 00:28:01,780 professional because the public can't 705 00:28:01,780 --> 00:28:04,002 tell the difference between you and the 706 00:28:04,002 --> 00:28:06,113 regular Air Force , so you need to be 707 00:28:06,113 --> 00:28:08,169 aware that we're representing Mother 708 00:28:08,169 --> 00:28:10,739 Blue and act accordingly and we have 709 00:28:10,739 --> 00:28:12,969 never had an issue um with any of our 710 00:28:12,969 --> 00:28:15,219 cadets at the air show , um , any of 711 00:28:15,219 --> 00:28:19,170 our cadets in public . Um , they're 712 00:28:19,170 --> 00:28:21,337 just an amazing group of young men and 713 00:28:21,337 --> 00:28:23,560 women , so you go to go Civil Air 714 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:26,130 Patrol.com . You find a unit , you go 715 00:28:26,130 --> 00:28:29,250 visit , and , uh , we have a process 716 00:28:29,250 --> 00:28:31,089 for adults where you have to be 717 00:28:31,089 --> 00:28:33,209 fingerprinted , you pass a background 718 00:28:33,209 --> 00:28:35,270 check . A lot of that is cadet 719 00:28:35,270 --> 00:28:37,689 protection , uh , oriented . We're very 720 00:28:37,689 --> 00:28:39,800 protective of our cadets and it's a . 721 00:28:40,079 --> 00:28:43,329 It's a very predator field predator 722 00:28:43,329 --> 00:28:45,829 filled world out there , um , so we're 723 00:28:45,829 --> 00:28:47,885 very protective of our cadets . Uh , 724 00:28:47,885 --> 00:28:49,773 cadets again , they'll , they are 725 00:28:49,773 --> 00:28:51,829 required to attend 3 meetings before 726 00:28:51,829 --> 00:28:54,310 they apply and assuming that the 727 00:28:54,310 --> 00:28:57,310 membership board because they will each 728 00:28:57,310 --> 00:28:59,421 does meet with the membership board , 729 00:28:59,421 --> 00:29:01,588 uh , of the local unit assuming that . 730 00:29:01,588 --> 00:29:03,532 Uh , everybody's good to go . Um , 731 00:29:03,719 --> 00:29:05,760 you're in and you start the process 732 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:07,982 right there . There's , uh , uh , there 733 00:29:07,982 --> 00:29:10,149 are 5 different levels of what we used 734 00:29:10,149 --> 00:29:12,371 to call professional development . It's 735 00:29:12,371 --> 00:29:14,680 the equivalent of PME , um , and for an 736 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:17,719 adult to promote , um , and to gain 737 00:29:17,719 --> 00:29:19,552 some privileges , you have to go 738 00:29:19,552 --> 00:29:21,920 through some of those levels . Um , 739 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:25,920 level 5 is the highest and , um , the 740 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:27,920 number of adult members that attain 741 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,400 level 5 , and get their Gil Rob Wilson 742 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:32,819 Award . Who was one of the founders of 743 00:29:32,819 --> 00:29:36,569 CAP , um , it's not very many , um , 744 00:29:36,780 --> 00:29:39,619 so it's just one of those things that 745 00:29:39,619 --> 00:29:41,786 depending on how much time you have to 746 00:29:41,786 --> 00:29:44,160 give , how motivated you are , um , you 747 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,382 know , we'll have some parents who come 748 00:29:46,382 --> 00:29:48,549 in and they only want to work with the 749 00:29:48,549 --> 00:29:50,771 cadets as long as their , uh , children 750 00:29:50,771 --> 00:29:52,993 are members , and that's fine . um , we 751 00:29:52,993 --> 00:29:55,216 have others who come in and . They have 752 00:29:55,216 --> 00:29:57,382 children , but they don't want to work 753 00:29:57,382 --> 00:29:59,604 with the cadets because they do that at 754 00:29:59,604 --> 00:30:01,438 home and that's also fine . Um , 755 00:30:01,438 --> 00:30:03,438 there's a place for everybody , you 756 00:30:03,438 --> 00:30:03,420 know , you find your niche and you 757 00:30:03,420 --> 00:30:05,859 excel at it , you know , you've had a 758 00:30:05,859 --> 00:30:08,540 long and in my opinion , prosperous 759 00:30:08,540 --> 00:30:11,449 career in in aviation . If you could do 760 00:30:11,449 --> 00:30:14,400 something over . What would you do ? Or 761 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:16,479 is there something that you've , you 762 00:30:16,479 --> 00:30:18,368 know , if you could tell yourself 763 00:30:18,368 --> 00:30:20,368 however many years ago , you know , 764 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:23,750 learn that lesson , uh , what is that 765 00:30:23,959 --> 00:30:26,739 that benefit people ? There were two 766 00:30:26,739 --> 00:30:28,906 decisions I made in my life that I , I 767 00:30:28,906 --> 00:30:31,959 tend to look back on and say , hm , how 768 00:30:31,959 --> 00:30:34,126 different would things have been , one 769 00:30:34,126 --> 00:30:35,737 of which is I turned down an 770 00:30:35,737 --> 00:30:35,550 appointment to the Air Force Academy , 771 00:30:35,689 --> 00:30:38,119 OK , um , uh , and again it's a long 772 00:30:38,119 --> 00:30:40,286 story . My , my best friend and I from 773 00:30:40,286 --> 00:30:42,452 Ada both want to go to the Academy and 774 00:30:42,452 --> 00:30:44,675 fly fighters . He was a year older than 775 00:30:44,675 --> 00:30:46,397 I and he was accepted . He was 776 00:30:46,397 --> 00:30:48,341 appointed , went and back then I'm 777 00:30:48,341 --> 00:30:50,508 gonna give away some of my age . There 778 00:30:50,508 --> 00:30:52,786 was no email there were no cell phones , 779 00:30:52,786 --> 00:30:55,199 um , so he comes home at Christmas and 780 00:30:55,199 --> 00:30:57,579 they had discovered a brain tumor and 781 00:30:57,579 --> 00:30:59,690 it manifested kind of like a stroke . 782 00:30:59,690 --> 00:31:01,857 One side of his face sagged . He would 783 00:31:01,857 --> 00:31:04,079 slur some of his words . It was obvious 784 00:31:04,079 --> 00:31:06,412 we were never gonna get to fly together . 785 00:31:06,412 --> 00:31:08,468 Um , he didn't even know if he gonna 786 00:31:08,468 --> 00:31:10,357 get to go back to the academy and 787 00:31:10,357 --> 00:31:12,468 continue his studies . So we agonized 788 00:31:12,468 --> 00:31:14,523 over it the month he was home and my 789 00:31:14,523 --> 00:31:16,635 appointment letter came and I decided 790 00:31:16,635 --> 00:31:18,690 to turn it down because I told him I 791 00:31:18,690 --> 00:31:21,410 can't look at you up there and see you 792 00:31:21,410 --> 00:31:23,632 and know that we're never gonna be able 793 00:31:23,632 --> 00:31:25,540 to do this together um so I fast 794 00:31:25,540 --> 00:31:28,900 forward to about 9 years ago and the 795 00:31:28,900 --> 00:31:31,067 then installation commander Tinker was 796 00:31:31,067 --> 00:31:33,359 then Colonel Kenyon Bell and Colonel 797 00:31:33,359 --> 00:31:35,359 Bell is an academy graduate , as is 798 00:31:35,359 --> 00:31:37,650 Colonel shadow . And uh Colonel Bell 799 00:31:37,650 --> 00:31:39,706 had only assumed command of the wing 800 00:31:39,706 --> 00:31:41,761 about 2 weeks before the air show at 801 00:31:41,761 --> 00:31:44,449 the time and uh he came to me at one 802 00:31:44,449 --> 00:31:46,393 point he said , DMA , tell me your 803 00:31:46,393 --> 00:31:49,209 story and I did and uh he said , you 804 00:31:49,209 --> 00:31:51,098 know , you would have made a fine 805 00:31:51,098 --> 00:31:53,098 career officer . I have no doubt of 806 00:31:53,098 --> 00:31:55,042 that , but you would not be in the 807 00:31:55,042 --> 00:31:57,170 position you are today to influence 808 00:31:57,170 --> 00:31:59,281 positively the next generation of Air 809 00:31:59,281 --> 00:32:01,392 Force leaders . I needed to hear that 810 00:32:01,392 --> 00:32:03,469 at that time . And the other was uh 811 00:32:03,469 --> 00:32:05,469 back in the mid to late 80s , I was 812 00:32:05,469 --> 00:32:07,247 offered a job flying for United 813 00:32:07,247 --> 00:32:09,302 Airlines . I was married at the time 814 00:32:09,302 --> 00:32:11,939 and my then wife footsto . No , you'll 815 00:32:11,939 --> 00:32:14,510 be gone way too much . And uh if I'd 816 00:32:14,510 --> 00:32:16,677 been able to look a couple of years in 817 00:32:16,677 --> 00:32:18,621 the future and see how drastically 818 00:32:18,621 --> 00:32:20,566 things would have changed , I'd be 819 00:32:20,566 --> 00:32:22,788 about ready to retire from the airlines 820 00:32:22,788 --> 00:32:24,899 and uh would have been a , a lifetime 821 00:32:24,899 --> 00:32:27,066 bus driver for United , but uh , but . 822 00:32:27,066 --> 00:32:28,954 You know you can't live your life 823 00:32:28,954 --> 00:32:31,066 looking over your shoulder and saying 824 00:32:31,066 --> 00:32:30,859 what should have could have so I , I 825 00:32:30,859 --> 00:32:33,540 think we're all brought to where we are 826 00:32:33,540 --> 00:32:36,270 for a reason , um , and I think Colonel 827 00:32:36,270 --> 00:32:38,589 Bell , now General Bell , um , was on 828 00:32:38,589 --> 00:32:40,700 to something when he said I'm where I 829 00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:42,922 need to be . Well , I'm certainly where 830 00:32:42,922 --> 00:32:45,089 I need to be . It was really nice to , 831 00:32:45,089 --> 00:32:47,329 uh , see you again , uh , learn more 832 00:32:47,329 --> 00:32:49,440 about the Civil Air Patrol . What a , 833 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:51,662 what a , what an awesome program . What 834 00:32:51,662 --> 00:32:53,940 an awesome guy leading the program . I , 835 00:32:53,940 --> 00:32:55,885 I , I mean , really , uh , it's an 836 00:32:55,885 --> 00:32:58,959 aviation , uh , enthusiast's dream this 837 00:32:58,959 --> 00:33:00,959 program , yeah , it is , and , uh , 838 00:33:01,229 --> 00:33:04,319 it's really so very rewarding , um , 839 00:33:04,329 --> 00:33:06,551 knowing that you're helping develop our 840 00:33:06,551 --> 00:33:08,662 next generation of leaders . And that 841 00:33:08,662 --> 00:33:10,773 you're giving something back to our , 842 00:33:10,773 --> 00:33:12,996 our local communities and our state and 843 00:33:12,996 --> 00:33:15,270 our nation , um , and you know it's 844 00:33:15,270 --> 00:33:17,750 only been a few years since , uh , we 845 00:33:17,750 --> 00:33:19,694 were recognized as a member of the 846 00:33:19,694 --> 00:33:21,861 total force and they changed , we used 847 00:33:21,861 --> 00:33:24,083 to report to the Air Education Training 848 00:33:24,083 --> 00:33:26,194 Command . Now we report to Air Combat 849 00:33:26,194 --> 00:33:28,306 Command and First Air Force is our uh 850 00:33:28,306 --> 00:33:30,660 is our daddy and , um , you know , um , 851 00:33:30,790 --> 00:33:33,280 we don't fly fighters , but . Um , we 852 00:33:33,280 --> 00:33:35,391 contribute to , to everything the Air 853 00:33:35,391 --> 00:33:37,599 Force does . All right . Hey , Colonel 854 00:33:37,599 --> 00:33:39,920 David McCollum , Oklahoma Wing 855 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:42,031 Commander Civil Air Patrol . Hey , it 856 00:33:42,031 --> 00:33:44,142 was a pleasure to , uh , sit down and 857 00:33:44,142 --> 00:33:45,976 chat with you today . It was the 858 00:33:45,976 --> 00:33:48,031 ambiance , I think . It's hard to go 859 00:33:48,031 --> 00:33:50,142 wrong in an airport . It is . It sure 860 00:33:50,142 --> 00:33:52,198 is . All right , hey , I wanna thank 861 00:33:52,198 --> 00:33:54,420 you so much for being our guest on this 862 00:33:54,420 --> 00:33:56,420 episode of the podcast , the Tinker 863 00:33:56,420 --> 00:33:58,531 Talks podcast , that is two shameless 864 00:33:58,531 --> 00:34:00,476 plugs before we wrap this up . The 865 00:34:00,476 --> 00:34:02,698 first one social media . If you haven't 866 00:34:02,698 --> 00:34:04,864 followed Tinker Air Force Base on your 867 00:34:04,864 --> 00:34:07,087 favorite social media platform , now is 868 00:34:07,087 --> 00:34:09,309 the time to do it . We're on Facebook , 869 00:34:09,309 --> 00:34:11,420 Twitter , uh , Instagram , LinkedIn , 870 00:34:11,420 --> 00:34:13,531 YouTube , you name it , we're on it . 871 00:34:13,531 --> 00:34:15,753 We would be on MySpace if we could . We 872 00:34:15,753 --> 00:34:18,280 would , and then the second shameless 873 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:20,639 plug , don't forget the Tinker Air Show 874 00:34:20,639 --> 00:34:24,560 is back for the year 2025 June 28th 875 00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:26,616 and 29th . If you haven't made plans 876 00:34:26,616 --> 00:34:28,760 yet for the air show , come on down . 877 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:31,120 It's an absolute blast , although very 878 00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:33,989 warm . It'll be warm . Be sure to , uh , 879 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,479 uh , water , sunscreen , uh , hearing 880 00:34:36,479 --> 00:34:38,590 protection if you are coming down for 881 00:34:38,590 --> 00:34:40,646 the . show we really hope to see you 882 00:34:40,646 --> 00:34:42,535 there . It's a good time . I know 883 00:34:42,535 --> 00:34:44,590 Colonel McCollum is gonna be there . 884 00:34:44,590 --> 00:34:44,274 Absolutely . We'll be there with bells 885 00:34:44,274 --> 00:34:45,996 on and it'll be a great show . 886 00:34:45,996 --> 00:34:48,218 Thunderbirds are gonna rock the house . 887 00:34:48,218 --> 00:34:50,441 They usually do . They do . All right , 888 00:34:50,441 --> 00:34:50,235 hey , I wanna thank so much . Thank you 889 00:34:50,235 --> 00:34:52,291 so much for watching this episode of 890 00:34:52,291 --> 00:34:54,715 Tinker Talks podcasts . Thank you so 891 00:34:54,715 --> 00:34:56,548 much . We'll see you on the next 892 00:34:56,548 --> 00:34:58,625 episode and until then , stay safe . 893 00:34:58,875 --> 00:34:59,354 Bye bye .