ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 58th Airlift Squadron hosted an orientation flight for Civil Air Patrol cadets on August 6, 2025.
Col. Robert Bittner Jr., 97th Operations Group commander, welcomed the 44 cadets on base and briefed them on the 97th Air Mobility Wing’s mission. He also detailed the capabilities and operational roles of the KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
Following the briefing, the cadets boarded a C-17 for their orientation flight. Loadmasters from the 58th AS gave cadets a preflight tour of the aircraft, showcasing how the cargo ramp is lowered and raised, and different functions inside the cockpit.
Once airborne, cadets experienced low-level flying maneuvers and were given the rare opportunity to sit in the cockpit and talk with the pilots. The C-17’s ramp was also lowered mid-air, offering a memorable aerial perspective of the rolling plains of Texas for the cadets.
Events like this give cadets a glimpse into the jobs of pilots and loadmasters, potentially shaping their decision for a future career in the Air Force.
“The flight was awesome, I had a lot of fun,” said Asher, CAP cadet. ”I really want to be a C-17 pilot in the Air Force, so experiences like this give me something to look forward to.”
Established in 1941, Civil Air Patrol is a public service organization chartered by congress that functions both as a nonprofit and the civilian auxiliary of the Air Force. CAP provides an array of aerospace and science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum, and educational products for members and teachers; offers youth character, leadership, and career development opportunities; and provides community service for federal, state, and local agencies in the air and on the ground.
“Civil Air Patrol is a great tool for developing leaders,” said Col. David McCollum, Oklahoma CAP commander. “It gives cadets an opportunity to explore what they might want to do as adults while learning leadership skills, which are valuable no matter what they do.”