Civil Air Patrol encampment brings 500 cadets to Wright State for leadership training

For more than a week, Wright State University served as the training ground for Civil Air Patrol’s Operation Horizon Forge, bringing together more than 500 middle school and high school cadets and staff members.

The program provided cadets with a structured and supervised environment that challenged participants while supporting their safety, growth and well-being.

“Civil Air Patrol is one of those places where it’s a safe place to experiment with decision-making, problem-solving and how to interact with different people with different personalities,” said Lt. Col. Joshua Cunningham, wing deputy commander in Civil Air Patrol and commandant of cadets for this year’s encampment.

Throughout the week, cadets heard from guest speakers on topics such as STEM, aerospace innovation and opportunities at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Participants also took part in hands-on physical activities, including climbing the Wright State Army ROTC tower and completing team exercises on the university’s challenge course.

“Encampment has always been my favorite part of Civil Air Patrol,” said Kylie Stephens, a sophomore at East Knox High School. “The university is always great.”

This marked the second consecutive year Wright State hosted the Ohio Wing Encampment. Attendance doubled from last year, bringing together cadets ages 12 to 20 from across the country to take part in the leadership experience.