To the regret of many in the community, the Civil Air Patrol has closed its doors because of a lack of adult volunteers.
It is the community’s loss. The youngsters are a ubiquitous presence. You will find them marching in parades, providing color guards, directing traffic, and handing out water at almost every St. Thomas Racing Association event.
The not-for-profit organization is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. CAP flies more than 95 percent of all federal inland search-and-rescue missions directed by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.
CAP’s cadet program has more than 27,000 members, ages 12 to 21. The cadet programs are credited with teaching the importance of personal integrity, accountability, self-discipline and respect for others to the nation’s youth. The cadet programs offer an immense amount of resources and activities, not found elsewhere.
And yet the St. Thomas unit has been hurting for recruits and for adult supervisors in recent years. Lt. Col. Clarence Hansby, CAP Group 8 commander, moved to the States earlier this year.
In a 2007 interview with the Source, Hansby lamented the dwindling number of adult supervisors. He said, at the time, "Right now, we are trying to stay afloat. We have a lot of competition now with the Junior Firefighters, the ROTC and a public safety program vying for the youngsters."
The St. Thomas unit had roughly 30 members, ages 12 to 18, about equally divided between boys and girls at that time.
Hansby headed the program for almost 30 years. "Ever since," he said at the time, his then-15-year-old son, a CAP cadet, talked him into checking the program out.
For the past 12 years, Hansby has had the assistance of Maj. Sally Browne, acting commander of the St. Thomas USVI Composite Squadron.
Speaking from her St. John home Tuesday, Browne said the closing of the program left them "without an option."
"It’s disheartening," she said. "We have been recruiting for adults; it’s an ongoing process." The program is run entirely by volunteers.
"For the program to run successfully, we must have committed adults," Browne said. "We cannot perform any public service without a senior member present."
Browne said, "Carnival is a perfect example. The cadets present the color guard at almost every event, and every presentation must have an adult CAP supervisor."
The most recent loss of the cadets’ presence was felt by the St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair committee. Carlos Robles, committee vice president, said one of the reasons this year’s fair was cancelled, along with the damage wrought by the rains, was the lack of the CAP cadets.
"They are an integral part of the fair. They direct traffic, collect tickets, and they sleep here overnight to provide security. It’s part of their training. It’s a real loss for the community," he said.
Browne, who lives on St. John, feels the loss personally. "It’s heartbreaking," she said. "We have tried to hard to recruit cadets and adults. Each time we get a new cadet, we ask to speak to his parents, ask them to join. People come and pick up an application, and we never hear from them again."
She said there are about 19 cadets and 12 seniors enrolled now, but only about half the seniors still live here, and about four regularly participate.
She said things are different on St. Croix, where a positive development has occurred. "They have a very large contingent," she said, "lots of adults, lots of V.I. National Guard who have signed up,” adding, “The funny part is about three or four years ago, they were down to six cadets."
The secret to St. Croix’s success, she said, is largely due to a member of the squad, Commander Lt. Akeem Innis.
"He revitalized the program when he came back from Afghanistan," Browne said.
She said the St. Thomas program has had no such luck. "There are so many former cadets living here, and we have virtually begged them to help keep the program going."
A nurse who worked with the U.S. Air Force in London, Browne said she was approached by Hansby about 12 years ago. "He asked if I had time, and I said I’d give it a try. I really enjoy very much doing what we do. We represent the U.S. Air Force; it’s a very responsible program."
Browne had high praise for the United Way. "They’ve been wonderful," she said. "They have supported us for years."
For a history of the local program, visit, https://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-news/2007/07/15/not-profit-civil-air-patrol
