OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Civil Air Patrol Squadron NHQ-127 hosted a youth aviation day for members of the Scouts BSA and the Osan City Korea Scout Association at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, June 15, 2024.

CAP Squadron NHQ-127 is based out of Osan AB, and is a federally chartered, non-profit corporation of volunteers who serve as an auxiliary to the U.S. Air Force.

The scouts and their families came from all over the ROK, including Osan, Daegu and Camp Humphries to complete all the tasks required to receive an Aviation Merit Badge.

“The purpose of youth aviation day was for our Civil Air Patrol squadron to get U.S. and Korean scouts together for a ROK-U.S. friendship event, and overlap as programs that have similar elements,” said U.S. Air Force Major Kevin Abington, CAP Squadron NHQ-127 commander. “Teaching young members of the community allows us to embrace their passion for aviation and learning.”

This event worked to continue to build the bond and trust of U.S. and ROK citizens by allowing Osan AB service members to talk and interact with the participants in a robust, family friendly environment revolving around aviation.

“We constantly try to improve the lives of young people exposed to the military and in the surrounding community through volunteering and hosting events like this,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jesse Matlock, 51st Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller and CAP Squadron NHQ-127 deputy commander. “Hosting a youth aviation day helped to develop the cadets ability to manage some of the components of a large event, while allowing the scouts to earn a merit badge.”

The youth aviation day allowed over 30 participants, including seven ROK citizens, to interact with service members stationed at Osan AB and learn through a question and answer session with Osan service members, a hands-on-activity, a base tour and lessons on the principles of flight.

The day began with an introduction from Abington and a Korean translator, where the activities and objectives for the day were discussed, before dividing participants into two groups that rotated through the daily activities.

The base tour included Osan’s air traffic control tower, airfield management and a tour of a U.S. Army C-12 Huron military passenger and transport aircraft.

The educational portion of the day included a lesson on the principles of flight, the construction of foam gliders as a hands on demonstration and use of a flight simulator.

The groups switched activities after a lunch break, where scouts and CAP cadets got to interact with a panel of service members stationed at Osan AB, who volunteered to answer questions.

“Introducing members of the community to the military and the world of aviation is something that we love to do,” said Matlock. “It provides an outlet for us to continue building our partnership with the Republic of Korea.”

Osan Air Base