ABOUT THE ACADEMY

Welcome to the Commemorative Air Force Aviation Heritage Cadet Academy. A four-day, three-night interactive intensive course focusing on the greatest generation. The Commemorative Air Force, a 501(C)3 History, Education and Preservation Organization in association with The American Airpower Heritage Museum, 501(C)3 History and Education Organization is offering this advanced program to all young adults, ages 13 and older.

This passing of the torch; program primarily focuses on four vital areas: Leadership, Military History, Flight and Survival and how these topics relate back to one of the most significant periods in American history. The thematic approach is to take the Cadet through all major conflicts in America's military history: WW II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom illustrating how significant changes, similarities and parallels have affected today's strategies.

This course is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of history and leadership, enabling them to gain valuable insight from military personnel who valiantly served in many different conflicts throughout the 20th century. These oral histories will be delivered by esteemed active and veteran military, providing students valuable insight and perspective on the evolution of leadership in America.

The CAF will also use all assets at its disposal to enlighten participating students:

CAF's historic fleet of 150 flyable historic combat aircraft. This will serve to actively demonstrate and illustrate pertinent lecture points. Cadets will study, tour and possibly fly in some of America's greatest national treasures.

Tour the American Airpower Heritage Museum.  A nationally accredited museum, the AAHM provides interactive exhibits that illustrate aviation concepts and events from every theater of WWII.

On the last day the cadets will take the skills they have been taught and put them into practice.  A round trip mission will be planned and executed.  A competition will be used to select the cadets who will execute the mission with “stick time” in one of our historic aircraft.  Those who are not selected will ride as a group in one of our larger vintage aircraft.

Any Cadet participating in this program will be invited back to bivouac at AIRSHO, Midland and work Flight Line Security.

*Any cadet participating will also receive a one year “Cadet Membership” in the CAF and the AAHM.

• Free admission to American Airpower Heritage Museum
• Full subscription to the monthly newsletter "Contrails"
• Full subscription to the quarterly magazine "Dispatch"
• Gift shop discount
• CAF Cadet wings
• CAF Cadet name tag
• Date of commission certificate
• Ghost Squadron and/or Aviation Heritage Cadet Academy T-shirt
• Membership card