2LT Scott Welborn, USMC was sort of ‘born’ into the
Civil Air Patrol. “My father and grandmother had been in Civil Air Patrol in the late
50s and early 60s.”
But it wasn’t their idea for Scott to give it a try, it was
his. “I was at an air show in Kansas City when I was 11 or 12 and noticed other kids
my age wearing uniforms. My dad told me about the Cadet Program and after the air show we
found a squadron to visit. I joined as a cadet a few weeks later.”
Scott spent his entire time as a Cadet with Richards-Gebaur
Composite Squadron (23057) in Missouri Wing. He was a Cadet from 1991 until 1998 and
reached the grade of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel.
“Civil Air Patrol taught me many qualities that served as a
foundation to build upon: Customs and courtesies, respect toward seniors, mission
accomplishment, the imporance of education, a sense of duty and a feeling of
patriotism.”
 In
Richards-Gebaur Squadron, Scott found pretty much all the excitement and activity he could
handle. This was due in large part to the Deputy Commander for Cadets - later squadron
commander - LtCol (then 1Lt) Gary Gregory. “If there was ever a person who
personified devotion to duty in the CAP, it was he. He was the most dependable person in
our squadron. You could always count on him to be at squadron activities and to help out
whenever you needed it.” Lt Col Gregory kept the squadron busy throughout
Scott’s cadet years, running bivouacs, aerospace weekends and SAR training; as well
as coordinating with other squadrons and the wing for even more activities.
Lt Col Gregory also impressed upon Scott the value of knowledge
and education, “If someone ever had a question regarding anything about CAP, he was
the one to go to. He would tell you, ‘It's in the book!’ He WAS the book; he was
a walking, talking, breathing Civil Air Patrol manual!”
Scott’s other big influence in Civil Air Patrol was
Richard-Gebaur’s Leadership Officer, who later became the Deputy Commander for
Cadets.
 “He
was a former Marine, so I got along with him from the start. His views on leadership and
duty were a little warped due to his Marine Corps experience. He taught me that there are
three ways to do things: the right way, the wrong way, and the Marine Corps way. Although
it may have raised the eyebrows of some other CAP Seniors, I learned that the best way was
the Marine way! So what did I do? I joined the Marines.”
It probably wasn’t just the Deputy for Cadets’ fault:
Scott’s father, Arch Welborn, was also a Marine and served as a sniper with the 2nd
Battalion, First Marines from 1958 until 1962.
Scott’s experiences read like every Cadet’s Santa Claus
letter - especially if you’re a hard-charger! “I attended Missouri Wing
Pathfinders School, Pararescue Orientation Course (PJOC) at Fort Campbell, KY and Summer
School at Hawk Mountain, I soloed at the first National Flight Encampment in 1995, served
as cadet commander for my squadron, earned a Ground Team rating and made a
“find” and was Team Commander for our squadron’s National Cadet Competition
Team at Maxwell AFB in 1997.”
 That’s
a busy schedule! However, Scott also found time to serve in the National Guard while still
a Civil Air Patrol Cadet. “I enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard during my
junior year of high school through the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). I served
with Delta Battery, 1st Battalion, 129th Field Artillery Regiment for 17 months until I
was honorably discharged in order to accept my NROTC scholarship. I attended weekend
drills while in high school and attended U.S. Army basic training at Fort Sill during the
summer between my junior and senior years of high school.”
Since he was a junior enlisted man, Scott has a good feel for what
their life is like. He knew he wanted to go to college and become an officer, so he valued
the experience and the perspective it gave him. Plus, serving in the Guard and his
exposure to other services through Civil Air Patrol gave him a chance to learn about the
missions, capabilities and traditions of all the armed services and to learn to respect
them all.
“I made fun of the ‘Nasty Guard’, even when I was
in it. But when we got to the artillery range my battery could SHOOT!” Scott says.
It was during his Senior year in high school that Scott made his
move: “I applied for the four-year Naval ROTC (Marine Option) scholarship. The chance
to be a United States Marine and the honor of leading Marines as a commissioned officer
was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.”
Who could?
 Being a Civil
Air Patrol Cadet worked for Scott in a big way as he went through the application and
interview process. “The two Marine officers responsible for helping me apply for and
receive my NROTC scholarship were former CAP cadets. One was a C-130 pilot and the other
was the executive officer of Recruiting Station Kansas City.” They took a special
interest in Scott and even attended a few functions at his squadron.
With so many Cadets interested in appointments to the various
academies, why would Scott make a point of applying only for NROTC? “ROTC offers the
best of both worlds. You get to do military training weekly and during the summers, and
you get to go to a civilian college and be a regular student. It was not a matter of one
route being better than the other.”
 By the time he
graduated from Raytown High School, Scott was a Cadet lieutenant colonel. At this point he
embraced the Dark Side, changed his membership status to ‘Senior’, and donned
the grade of Technical Flight Officer.
His Civil Air Patrol Cadet time served him well when he began
NROTC at the University of Missouri that fall. “Much of the leadership training we
received as cadets mirrored certain aspects of military training. At basic training and
when I entered Naval ROTC (NROTC) my freshman year I definitely had a jump on lessons such
as drill and ceremonies, customs and courtesies, care and maintenance of military
uniforms, military rank structure, as well as various field skills such as land navigation
and communications.”
Scott enjoyed life as an NROTC cadet at Mizzou. There were classes
at the ROTC building and weekly classes involving the entire battalion. This was on top of
organized PT a few times a week before class. “We had actual college classes that
were military related such as ‘Amphibious Warfare’ and we had a drill team,
rifle and pistol teams, and a sailing team. We would travel to other universities to
compete in drill meets, shooting matches, and sailing competitions.”
In the summer between semesters were training periods that would
last up to six weeks. There were opportunities to spend time on Navy surface ships or
submarines, with Marine combat units and to visit various Navy and Marine installations
across the country.
 Scott graduated from Missou in 2001
with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science - all paid for by Uncle Sam. A few
weeks later he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant of Marines. Since then he has
completed The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico and at the present time he is
waiting assignment to U.S. Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill for training as MOS
0801 - Basic Field Artillery Officer. After completing school he will be assigned to 1st
Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
As he begins his military career and ends his Cadet career, what
are his thoughts on the Cadet Program and Cadets? “The Cadet Program is a great
experience for any young person regardless of whether their future plans involve aviation
or the military.”
“CAP cadets are some of the most motivated individuals you
will ever find. They do the Cadet Program, go on SAR missions, and perform community
service not because they get paid to, or because they have to. They do it because they
WANT to.”
Thanks Scott! Good luck and Semper Fidelis. |
Capt. Shawn Stanford started out as a Cadet in Connecticut Wing's
Stratford Eagles Composite Squadron (1977-'81), where he competed in the National Cadet
Competition in 1980 and '81. After eight years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps,
he rejoined CAP as a senior member at Richards-Gebaur Composite Squadron in Missouri Wing.
He is the commander of the Wyoming Valley Composite Squadron 209 in Pennsylvania Wing. He
is also a recipient of the Brig. Gen. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager Aerospace
Education Achievement Award.