Cadets get BDUs courtesy of 927th ARW

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Vernon Fowler Jr.
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Civil Air Patrol 89th MacDill Aviation Cadet Squadron was presented with 50 sets of woodland style BDUs by Col. Douglas Schwartz, 927th Air Refueling Wing commander, in the Air Traffic Control tower at here March 12.

Members of the 927th Force Support Squadron Honor Guard collected uniforms and donated them to CAP. Altogether CAP received 226 sets of uniform donations. These donations will assist in cutting down the out-of-pocket expenses the cadets and senior members currently have to pay for uniforms and accessories.

"I was very honored that the wing commander personally approached me to head up this BDU drive," said TSgt. Scott Sendtko, 927 ARW Honor Guard NCO in charge. "Hopefully they can use the money that they saved on BDUs for something else to help their unit."

"The accessories cost and cadets will need to purchase at least two to three uniforms," said Maj. David Leach, 89th MacDill Aviation Cadet Squadron Region Cadet Program officer. "This helps cadets and senior members who can't afford those expenses."

Patches were removed from the uniforms, then sorted and inventoried. They will be distributed to any cadets within the squadron that are in need. Any remaining uniforms will then be offered to other CAPs around the state.

Integrity First, Volunteer Service, Service Before Self, and Respect are the values that are instilled in the cadets. They give of themselves to help others in any way that they can. Donations can make carrying out their mission a little easier.

CAP welcomes all students, from ages of 12 to 18, who would like to join and become cadets. Volunteers are also welcome and no prior military service is required. Meetings are held every Tuesday night in the Air Traffic Control tower here at 7 p.m.

For more information contact Capt. MJ Ricketts, 89th MacDill Aviation Cadet Squadron commander, at 802-6894 or by email at 89macs@flwg.us. Also visit the website at www.gocivilairpatrol.com.