The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
CADETS ON A MISSION
Lorain County Composite Squadron holds cadet training at airport
Cadets and senior members of the Lorain Composite Squadron hosted their annual Bivouac Aug. 2, allowing cadets to camp out at the Lorain County Regional Airport, 44050 Russia Road, New Russia Township, and go through different emergency rescue scenarios.
“It’s something we do where our group, which consists of squadrons from Brecksville, Painesville, Cleveland and Lorain County, come together to camp out for the weekend,” said Major Andrew Monda Jr., operations officer for the Lorain County Composite Squadron. “The camping almost simulates what it’s like to live out of tents and in the fields. It’s not quite
It may be make believe, but going through the simulation will teach the cadets realworld skills.”
— Cadet Capt. Douglas Fairbairn of the Squadron
like living in the field, we have bathrooms, a kitchen, stove and refrigerator, but it does help provide the cadets with some practice.”
Monda said the camp will cover different emergency services and rescue training.
“They will go through different scenarios and how to follow a mission protocol,” he said. “They will also look at leadership skills and how to best solve a particular scenario. It won’t be too serious though. We will have plenty of fun activities for
them over the course of the weekend.”
Monda said the Composite Squadron, along with providing the cadet program, serves as U.S. Air Force Auxiliary.
“When the Air Force is notified for a search, we are part of that search,” he said. “This is typically done through the beacons that are given out when there is an emergency. These beacons are on boats, aircraft and are even carried by individuals who may be in an isolated area. We don’t often go on missions, but we are equipped when needed. In Northern Ohio it’s us and the Akron-Canton Airport that have the ability to
run these rescue missions. It’s similar to a volunteer fire department. We are listening to the radio and are ready to provide emergency assistance when needed.”
Cadet Capt. Douglas Fairbairn of the Squadron said the weekend will feature the cadets going through some detailed simulations.
“The scenario we are going to have the cadets go through will feature a rescue op in Mexico,” he said. “We added in some fun tropes like a drug cartel is down there and the U.S. Army was called in to push them back. The Army had to fall back, however, and that is where the cadets come in. They will be running a rescue
op in these hot spots. It’s something that is way more involved than we are asked to do here in Lorain County, but it adds some fun to search and rescue.”
Fairbairn said leadership is the biggest thing he wants the cadets to take away from the weekend.
“The event simulates danger, and it’s important to see how they respond to that,” he said. “It may be make believe, but going through the simulation will teach the cadets real-world skills. They will learn how to instruct and lead their respective groups. They will have a better understating of what leadership really is and how to apply it.”