Youth Cadets Take First Flight After 10-Year Civil Air Patrol Hiatus
After a decade-long hiatus, the U.S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol is back in Del Rio. The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) program provides students, 12 to 18 years old, with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in aerospace engineering, mechanics, safety, and pilot training. The Del Rio Cadet Flight reestablished themselves this Spring 2025 and took their first youth cadet flights out of the Del Rio International Airport on August 24. Three successful flights familiarized participating cadets with the local airspace and landmarks. A few of the kids were lucky enough to get a bird’s eye view, sitting copilot in the cockpit or observing from the back seat.
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Second Lieutenant Brett Davis, Commander of Del Rio Cadet Flight, remarked on the “significant milestone” of this first flight for the cadets. He said he is “proud and thrilled we could get this opportunity for these cadets.” Davis is one of the adult volunteers who helped push the CAP program back into action. His son, Hunter Davis, was enrolled in the CAP program when their family was stationed in Japan. Davis teamed up with a few other dedicated parents and drummed up enough volunteers to facilitate the CAP program here in Del Rio. Now, Hunter is 14 years old, and a “senior cadet” enrolled in the program alongside his younger sister Emalyn Davis who is 12 years old.
A public service organization that functions as an educational nonprofit and supports missions as an US Air Force auxiliary, CAP is a volunteer-based program that focuses on the civilian side of aerospace careers. According to the official website, “Civil Air Patrol’s aerospace education programs support community schools, teachers, students and CAP youth through a variety of programs, including curriculum for K-12 classes and study guides, books and special project kits that address aviation, space, cyber and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).”
There are nine students actively enrolled in Del Rio CAP, the students are referred to as “cadets.” The cadets pay an annual membership fee ($36 for new youth cadets in Texas) and receive donated uniform fatigues. Also included in the membership is flight time, scholarship opportunities, and a weekly cadet class on Saturdays. Classes range from experimenting with STEM kits and rocketry to lessons on humanitarianism and emergency preparedness. Davis said, “depending on their effort,” cadets may be able to apply for their pilot license by progressing through the program. Â
The CAP program is an affordable jump start. Although operated under the Air Force as an auxiliary program, CAP said the program focuses on civil elements of flight, rather than military. Some military elements are involved in the program, such as uniforms and marching drills, but their priority is personal development. CAP gives these cadets a chance to learn skills that can benefit for a lifetime, no matter the direction they pursue.
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Davis said they hope to bring in more recruits. He said the more adults who volunteer, the more students can participate. Brett Davis, Steven Dunford, and Carmen Abreu were the volunteer leaders the day of the student flights. Volunteers do not need to be formally trained in aerospace, Davis said, “it’s all about serving the community.” Their highest concern is “ensuring cadet protection.” Thier mission/vision statement is "Volunteers Serving America’s Communities, Saving Lives, and Shaping Futures" with the core values of "Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence, and Respect.
Carmen Abreu is a CAP volunteer. She said her son Daniel Abreu, 14 years old, has been “interested in aviation since he was 3 years old.” Abreu said, “he was bred into it,” his dad is a private pilot and has a flight simulator at home. She said she helped Davis get the CAP program established in Del Rio for her son. Daniel was scheduled to take his first flight as copilot that day.
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On flight day, cadets learn safety, ground operations, and leadership. They have the opportunity to get their hands on flight controls and experience flight maneuvers. 17 year old Del Rio High School student Pedro Palafox said he was in JROTC and Drill Team Commander for 3 years until he switched to CAP. Palafox commented: “Learning about all the aircrafts, how to fly… I thought it was going to be simple. But everything that goes into one flight, it takes such a long time to get one flight done… they have my respect.”
They hope to conduct these youth cadet flights at least once every six months. Currently the flights are being operated under the Alamo Composite Squadron, who provided the plane. Pilot and Aircraft Commander Ajeeth Rajan flew a private plane from another city into Del Rio for the day. CAP owns and operates a fleet of Cessna 172 Skyhawks that are stationed at different hubs throughout the world. Del Rio CAP said their end goal is to “deploy a dedicated airplane, or two,” to be permanently housed at Del Rio International Airport. Â
During an Airport Commission meeting on May 25, 2025, Airport Manager Juan Onofre presented CAP’s reestablishment to the Commission and said: “It was an effort where the School District helped, the City helped, the Chamber of Commerce, the Air Force Base, everybody was very interested in participating in this. This flight they are going to be meeting here on school grounds or somewhere, but it is going to be here in Del Rio. They are not going to be going away to the base, which was one of the constraints that happened last time about 10 years ago, making it a little more difficult. This time, with that backing of the School District, we hope to have them here for many years, a long time.”
Those interested in becoming an adult volunteer or cadet member can contact Brett Davis directly at <brett.davis@txwg.cap.gov>
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