Weeklong Academy One Of America's Leading Civic Education
Activities
Twenty-four of the Civil Air Patrol's top cadets from across
the nation are gaining a head start in their public service careers
by participating in one of America's leading civic education
activities, the Civic Leadership Academy, from Feb. 20-27 in
Washington, D.C.
The CLA, an academically intense, interactive study of U.S.
government in action, provides participants the opportunity to grow
as citizens and young leaders through lessons in persuasive
leadership, federal government, public service careers and American
heritage.
"Civic Leadership Academy provides cadets an unrivaled
opportunity to gain a well-rounded understanding of leadership,
public service and the principles that guide our nation," said Maj.
Gen. Amy S. Courter, CAP's national commander and CLA's founding
director. "This activity empowers our cadets to apply those
principles in their own lives and to be thoughtful participants in
our nation's future."
There is a real career thread running throughout the program,
according to Lt. Col. Bill Brockman, CLA activity director and
founding faculty member. In addition to a blend of field trips,
lectures, seminars and assigned readings from historic and current
sources, the cadets will visit the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court;
the State Department; Arlington National Cemetery, laying a wreath
at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; the Central Intelligence
Agency; the Pentagon; legislative offices; and the Smithsonian Air
and Space Museum, as well as World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Women in
Military Service and Lincoln memorials. They will also encounter
VIP speakers at these locations who will provide insights designed
to deepen their understanding of government in action. Their CLA
tasks will culminate with a final project - a presentation on their
CLA experience they will give to their peers in their home
squadrons and wings.
"The success of CLA has been to keep the cadets engaged in
activities they could not do on their own," said Brockman. "The
cadets are not just learning about government, but also, how to
interact with government, how they can be involved to make a
difference and how to look for internship opportunities."
In recognition of the program's outstanding academic value, The
National Association of Secondary School Principals has again
placed CLA on the National Advisory List of Contests and Activities
for 2009-10.
The CLA cadets also will participate in CAP's 2010 Legislative
Day on Feb. 25 by working alongside their wing commanders to brief
Capitol Hill legislators on how CAP's primary missions - search and
rescue, emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs
- have benefited their communities.
Legislative Day will be held in conjunction with CAP's Winter
National Board meeting, which is slated for Feb. 26-27 at the
Crystal City Marriott, Arlington, Va. The CAP National Board
consists of 69 members representing each state, Puerto Rico and the
District of Columbia within the organization's eight regions. The
board is CAP's policy-making arm and in conjunction with the CAP
Board of Governors, proposes amendments to the governing
constitution and bylaws.