THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017 syvnews.com An edition of the Santa Maria Times Vi viiSHBp MIKE HODGSON PHOTOS, STAFF Maj. Cliff Chabot, left, and Maj. Joshua Geismer assemble antennas to be used for tracking down emergency locator transmitters as recruit Nathan Conger, second from left, and Cadet Ben Baker watch during a recent meeting of the fledgling Civil Air Patrol flight at Dunn School in Los Olivos. Civil Air Patrol group takes off at Dunn School Student spearheads effort to bring CAP to Valley youths MIKE HODGSON mhodgsonleecentralcoastnews.com A Dunn School student's fascination with aeronautics has resulted in an effort to establish a flight of the Civil Air Patrol in the Santa Ynez Valley and led him to discover new possibilities for a future career not connected with flight. Ben Baker, a junior at the school and a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol, is responsible for senior CAP advisors meeting weekly at the school to pull in youths ages 7 to 21 from throughout the Valley who are interested in learning more about flight and serving their community in a variety of ways. And it all started when he hap -pened to mention his interest in aerospace to his doctor, who suggested he check out the Civil Air Patrol. Ben attended CAP meetings at the Santa Maria Public Airport and was hooked, admitting he was drawn, in part, by the uniform cadets wear as well as the opportunity to learn about aeronautics and get involved in a variety or programs. That, in turn, led him to work with the advisors in Santa Maria to bring the CAP program to the Valley. "I also recognized there wasn't an ROTC here, but I wanted something like that," Ben said, referring to the Reserve Officer Training Corps program offered at some schools. "CAP is not strictly military. It's search and rescue and more." Dunn School head Mike Beck offered to let senior advisors and potential members meet on campus, although the program is not limited to Dunn students. It's open to anyone who is interested, either as cadets or adult volunteers. "The kids that are coming here have a passion," Beck said. "When they find that, their lives are forever changed. They become leaders." Maj. Joshua Geismar, the CAP squadron commander in Santa Maria, said the fledgling Santa Ynez Valley group now numbers around a dozen. "Aviation is definitely what MIKE HODGSON, STAFF Dunn School junior Ben Baker has spearheaded an effort to bring a Civil Air Patrol squadron to the Santa Ynez Valley. they have in common," Geismar said. Recent recruit Nathan Conger said he started attending the meetings because "flying is pretty cool," and CAP would allow him to learn about aviation in general. "And it will look really good on my resume," he added. At a recent meeting, Geismar, deputy group commander Maj. Cliff Chabot and senior CAP member Lt. Col Dan Freedman showed cadets how to use directional antennas to find emergency locator transmitter signals given off by downed aircraft. After a quick demonstration, the cadets went out to search for a transmitter that had been hidden on the campus. "We turn it on, hide it somewhere and they have to go and find it," Geismar said. "That's how we qualify folks. "They're very sneaky," he continued. "They like to put them in a Dumpster so the signal goes straight up." "The kids that are coming here have a passion. When they find that, their lives are forever changed. They become leaders." Mike Beck, Dunn School head Ben added, "At one of the Airport Days, they put one in between the hangars so the signal was bounding around." CAP cadets learn about a variety of topics, from search and rescue operations, disaster relief and providing humanitarian services to U.S. Air Force support and counterdrug operations. But their study also takes them into areas unrelated to aerospace. "I've learned my primary focus isn't strictly aviation," Ben said. "I'm looking at majors from manufacturing fire turn- To join the Civil Air Patrol Anyone who is interested in joining the Civil Air Patrol either as a cadet or as an adult volunteer can attend one of the Squadron 101 CAP meetings from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays in Hangar 1 at 3203 Lightning St. in Santa Maria or one of the formation meetings from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays in the conference room adjacent to the library at Dunn School, 2555 W. Highway 154 in Los Olivos. "We encourage folks to come to two, three or four meetings to learn about CAP before they sign up," said Maj. Joshua Geismar, commander of Squadron 101. He said membership requires a background check and an annual fee of about $79 for adults and $40 for cadets. For more information about the Civil Air Patrol, visit cawgcap.org or gocivilairpatrol.com. out gear to criminal justice. I do have a few more routes to go now." He said he's also considering one of the military academies for furthering his education. "A lot of kids are interested in STEM," said Ben's mother, Julie Baker, referring to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. "We hope to get a fab lab here with a 3-D printer and laser cutter." She said the local CAP group also plans to work with the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter and its youth flight club to visit a pilot who is building his own airplane, and volunteer at such events as the Santa Ynez Airport Day celebration. "Our No. 1 priority is that kids do great in school," Geismar said, adding that moving through the ranks in the Civil Air Patrol can be important to a future career. "Especially if you want to be an astronaut," he said. "If you complete the program, you will be head and shoulders above the competition." Geismar said a CAP flight can be established in the Santa Ynez Valley under the auspices of Squadron 101 in Santa Maria, and then, once certain qualifications are met, the flight could become its own squadron.
