Gabe trains a squadron in the Civil Air Patrol and aims to earn his pilot’s license.
Lessons learned in the Civil Air Patrol
High school student Gabe has acquired valuable skills in his three years with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. A Senior Master Sergeant, he trains a squadron and holds four duty assignments as a non-commissioned officer. To qualify for these roles, he demonstrated leadership, knowledge, fitness, and character through a series of exams and activities. Without a doubt, these roles offer beneficial experiences in addition to his education with PA Cyber, a public online charter school.
Gabe participates in search and rescue exercises, looking for aircraft debris and evidence of missing people. He knows how to carry a wounded person on a stretcher and apply a tourniquet. He also operates CAP’s radio systems and conducts safety briefings. Gabe wants to get his squadron certified so they can fly missions.
Of all the skills he has gained while in CAP, Gabe is most proud of his increased patience. “When I’m training people, they’ll mess up,” he said. “But I learned patience so I could stay calm in those situations. And I can talk to them in a respectful manner.”
Gabe has been attending weekly CAP meetings since he was 12, which is the earliest anyone can join. His squadron is in Northeastern Pennsylvania. When he graduates from high school, he wants to get his Commercial Driver’s License. He is also interested in driving armored tanks for the Army.
In his seventh year at PA Cyber, he says he has everything he needs to attend his high school classes and clubs from home, and he likes not having to worry about dressing a certain way to fit in.
We’re so proud to have Gabe at PA Cyber! For more information about PA Cyber, visit pacyber.org or call 724-643-1180.
