Luke commander speaks to Civil Air Patrol cadets

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LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 2007 Arizona Wing Cadet Conference of the Civil Air Patrol Awards Banquet featured Brig. Gen. Tom Jones, 56th Fighter Wing commander, as keynote speaker Jan. 14.

In his speech, General Jones commended the cadets for being part of an outstanding organization. He reflected on his cadet experience at the Air Force Academy saying that the cadet honor code, "I will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate among us anyone who does," and the Air Force core values, integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do, are the basis by which he leads his life.

General Jones also commented on the relationship with CAP and their support to the mission of the 56th FW at Luke. These include search and rescue missions of downed Luke aircraft and pilot recovery.

The general concluded the evening by offciating the presentation of awards. The awards were the result of the annual cadet competition where color guards from various squadrons in Arizona compete to advance to the Southwest regional competition. This year's winner is the Tucson Composite Squadron 105.

The CAP was created Dec. 1, 1941, and became the offcial civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force May 26, 1948. It's a volunteer organization with more than 60,000 members and has three primary missions: emergency operations, which includes search and rescue and disaster relief missions as well as Homeland Security operations; a cadet program which teaches young men and women teamwork, moral leadership, aerospace education, technical skills, and military history; and aerospace education,
which teaches aviation and aerospace principles to cadets and the general public.

For more information, call Capt. Brandon Masangcay, CAP public affairs assistant director, at (480) 620-1942 or e-mail wingtips@azwg.cap.gov.