Happy Mother's Day!
- Details
- Category: EPS
- Published on Sunday, 13 May 2012 06:47
- Written by Donald Raleigh
- Hits: 44
Morning has broken, but our spirits have not!
Happy Mother's Day, and happy Graduation Day! In just a few short hours your cadets will be done with EPS and ready to come home. Over the past 2 days they have learned the basics of teamwork, attention to detail and what it means to be a cadet in the greatest volunteer organization in the United States of America. The lessons learned this weekend will propel them forward to meet the challenges and rigors of encampment, the most significant week of training in their lives to that point.
We hope that you have enjoyed seeing your cadets in training over the past few days, and we look forward to each of them joining us 23 to 30 June 2012 here at Camp Ripley. This is an exciting time in their lives, and we appreciate your support as we prepare to perform missions for America.
Semper Vigilans, and Happy Sunday!
Saturday Night
- Details
- Category: EPS
- Published on Saturday, 12 May 2012 21:24
- Written by Donald Raleigh
- Hits: 49
Just a few hours left of EPS 2, and the cadets are doing Great! We have a fun time on the drill pad tonight doing what is called a drill down. The cadets are given commands, like:
Right Face
Left Face
About Face
And they they are judged on how well they are able to follow directions. This type of an exercise puts all the training together and helps to enforce attention to detail and good D&C (Drill and Ceremony). Everyone did Great! It is such a joy to work with each of the cadets as they are learning, growing and getting to know new friends from across the Minnesota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.
Graduation is tomorrow at 11:30, and we are targeting 13:00 (1:00 pm for the mom's out there!) ((and some of the dad's)). What a great treat for Mother's Day!
We are putting them in their beds right now, and turning out the lights, where they can dream about doing PT again tomorrow at, you guessed it, Oh Dark Thirty!
Good Night Minnesota Wing!
EPS 2 - Saturday Morning PT
- Details
- Category: EPS
- Published on Saturday, 12 May 2012 08:04
- Written by Donald Raleigh
- Hits: 92
Saturday morning has arrived, and the basic cadets are out of bed and doing PT. For some of the cadets, this is the first time they have participated in a group level PT session. It beings with stretching and agility and then moves on to strength based exercises. The point of PT is to build up the cadet physically as well as teach them about teamwork. Everyone is encouraged to cheer on their teammates and show a high degree of motivation. For some, this is the most dreaded part of encampment. The confidence they gain doing PT will help them get through the rest of the day, and prepare them for encampment.
"We do it to teach the basic cadets to properly do PT and to build them up as members of the CAP. At first it seems tough, but then, once they "get it" the cadets really see PT as a fun part of their experience" says encampment commander Maj Brian Freseman. "It really brings out the best in them."
Today is a full day with drill, classes and inspections. Each step of the process helps the cadets get ready for being of service to their community, state and nation.