Fourteen Hartselle students attended the 2018 Alabama/Mississippi Wing Summer Encampment June 23-30 at Camp Shelby in Mississippi as members of the General Joe Wheeler Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.

The experience allowed students to fly in several different types of aircraft, including a C1-30 airplane used by the Hurricane Hunters; a Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter; and a Civil Air Patrol C-182, which the cadets got to fly with instructor supervision.

Cadets also experienced an inside look at daily life in the military by getting up at 5:30 a.m. every morning for physical training and eating in the chow hall. Students also attended classes in aerospace and other aspects of military education.

Cadets had to go without cellphones, TV, electronics, candy bars and soft drinks. “They got by fine with just water, healthy food and lots of exercise,” said Lt. Col. Brian Williams, commander of the General Joe Wheeler Squadron.

Cadets toured Keesler Air Force Base, visited the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum and received engagement skill training on an M-4 carbine rifle. Lt. Col. Felix Diaz said students also benefited from leadership training. More experienced cadets run the encampment.

“Several cadets said this is the best encampment they have attended by far,” Diaz said. “Even if they don’t join the military, the encampment helps them become better citizens.”

Suzanne Counts said her daughter Olivia enjoyed everything about the encampment.

“She absolutely loved the camp,” Counts said. “She was nervous and didn’t know what to expect, but she had a great time. Three days later, she said she was missing camp.”

Counts said her daughter is not sure if she wants to join the military, but she was excited to learn about aerospace technology.

Next year’s encampment will take place in Alabama, and both Williams and Diaz said Fort McClellan is the front-runner for the location, though the location is not a certainty.

After graduating from the 2018 encampment, cadets are now able to attend advanced camps in areas such as cyber defense training. “The Airforce is very interested in growing tomorrow’s leaders and getting them into STEM technology,” Williams said.