ARLINGTON, Va. — Nearly three dozen Civil Air Patrol cadets, ages 17 to 20, gathered at their launching hubs this weekend before leaving the country to represent the United States on an international exchange of goodwill and a mutual love of aviation. Their travels around the world officially begin today and will end on Aug. 4.
Since 1947, the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) has brought together the best youth leaders from multiple countries to promote global understanding, and to support the growth of aerospace knowledge around the globe. Today, IACE consists of 19 countries and exchanges over 300 cadets every year.
Of the 24,000 cadets in Civil Air Patrol’s 52 wings, only 35 of the nation’s top cadets are 2017 American ambassadors, making IACE the most competitive and sought-after of CAP’s National Cadet Special Activities.
“This is a coveted opportunity, only experienced by a select group of our cadets,” said Lt. Col. Peggy Myrick, Civil Air Patrol’s 2017 IACE director. This will be Myrick’s ninth year participating in the program, her second as director of the activity.
The cadets’ journey began over the weekend with the youth and their escorts flying to one of two launching hubs: one in Washington, D.C., for cadets flying to the eastern countries and Canada, and another in San Francisco for cadets flying to Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Israel and the Republic of Korea. Once in their host countries, cadets meet the participants from other countries in the exchange.
“I am always amazed at how well our cadets conduct themselves in their host countries and how much they learn about other cultures in just a short time,” said Myrick. “They truly are America’s youth ambassadors, representing the very best of Civil Air Patrol.”
This year the United States is welcoming 35 cadets from the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea. Over the next three days, these visiting cadets will tour Washington, D.C., and the Steven Udvar-Hazy Aerospace Museum before flying to their host states to learn about American culture and share their passion for aviation. Follow the cadets' journeys through the United States on social media with #IACE2017USA.
Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. CAP’s 57,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. CAP also plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to 24,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.
