DeKALB – Twelve-year-old Travis Dulzo plans to join the U.S.Air Force after he graduates from high school. So Dulzo, a sixth-grader at Clinton-Rosette Middle School, became a cadet member of the Civil Air Patrol, where he is learning important military and aerospace skills that will put him far ahead of his peers when he enters basic training in a few years.

And while he doesn’t want to become a pilot, Travis is excited to be a member of group’s ground team.

“My dad is in the Air Force, and he encouraged me to join CAP, and I really like it,” he said. “I like learning about the military and how to be a part of the ground team. We’ve learned how to put out a fire incase of a natural disaster. I plan to stay with CAP until I’m 17, and go into the Air Force.”

The DeKalb squadron of the Civil Air Patrol formed in January, and now the organization, a non-combatant auxiliary unit of the United States Air Force, hopes to recruit more members from the area. The group held an informational open house at the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport on Saturday.

The Civil Air Patrol, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, provides emergency air and ground services to assist local policedepartments, sheriff’s departments or the military. All members are volunteers, and use airplanes provided by the Air Force.

There are currently six cadets, who are between the ages of 12 and 21, and eight senior members, who are adults over age 21, enrolled in the DeKalb squadron. All the members are a part of the ground team, which can assist pilots on missions. The DeKalb squadron meets every Friday night at the airport.

The squadron has no airplanes housed at the DeKalb airport because there are no member pilots yet. But Steve Weber, acting commanderof the DeKalb composite squadron, is hoping to change that. He said that a few pilots from DeKalb’s Experimental Aviation Association stopped by Saturday to inquire about joining.

“If something happens in northern Illinois, like a natural disaster or an amber or silver alert, we could be called by the state, or local police or national weather service to help," Weber said. "We can look at things from the air and cover a lot of area.”

The three main missions of the Civil Air Patrol program are aerospace education, the cadet program and emergency services. The cadet program, of which Travis is a member, works with middle and high school students on military customs and courtesies, core values, leadership skills, as well as aerospace education.

Weber, who has been involved with the air patrol for 40 years, said thebest part of the organization is working with the cadets. While cadets are notrequired to join the military, he said the program can still benefit allstudents.

“I like the idea of shaping young people and help them focus and become leaders instead of followers,” he said.

Patrick Kozlowski, a former cadet with a squadron in the LaSalle-Peru area, now works with the DeKalb squadron’s cadets. The 20-year old Northern Illinois University junior said his experience as a cadet helped him when he joined the Army Reserves.

“I especially enjoy helping new cadets build skills to become professional, productive adults,” he explained. “This gives young people structure, and builds discipline, leadership and public speaking skills. Those are all plusses of being in the program, and it’s definitely helped me. Not a lot of people know about this program, and we’re hoping that changes.”

Lori and John Tolliver of DeKalb became air patrol members with their 17-year old daughter, who is planning on joining the Air Force after she graduates from DeKalb High School in December.

“We wanted to join to support her efforts, but we found that this program can benefit our careers, and we’ll continue our involvement after she moves on because this appeals to our own personal goals,” Lori Tolliver explained. “This program gives the cadets a whole new level of confidence. It’s a safe environment for them to make mistakes and learn from them.”

John Tolliver said he’s really enjoyed all the training that Civil Air Patrol provides its members.

“We’ve gotten training in emergency management, and this is preparing my daughter for her next phase in life,” he said. “It will be nice to get some pilots here and then we can get a CAP plane and do missions out of theDeKalb airport.”

For more information about Civil Air Patrol, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com.