Pegasus Squadron Cadets Visit Fort Hood and Learn About Army Aviation

By CAP Maj Steve Alvarez
Public Affairs Officer
Pegasus Composite Squadron, Texas Wing

FORT HOOD, Texas – Recently a group of cadets from the Civil Air Patrol’s Pegasus Composite Squadron in Austin, Texas discovered that despite the fact that U.S. Army aviators wear a different uniform and are in another branch, they share a unique bond with the cadets that transcends inter-service rivalry.  The cadets, and the pilots who hosted them, share a love of flight and that connection deepened when three of the aviators shared that they had connections to CAP.

“We had an incredible visit with the men and women of the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade,” Pegasus Composite Squadron Deputy Commander CAP Maj Dennis Eibe said.  “Our cadets learned a lot about Army Aviation.  It was an eye-opener for a lot of the cadets who likely had not considered Army aviation as a viable career option.”

Cadets visited the 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Air Calvary Division.  They learned about the missions and capabilities of the Apache, Chinook and Blackhawk helicopters and later got to explore the aircraft and talk to the pilots one on one.

“The fact that you are here, early on a Saturday morning, and wearing a uniform says something,” 2nd Battalion’s Commander, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jason Raub told the cadets.  He later gathered the cadets in the belly of the “best aircraft in the U.S. Army,” the CH-47 Chinook which he pilots, and he told them about missions he has flown, including his favorite, delivering humanitarian supplies in the Bahamas this past summer.

Given CAP’s reputation for being a “best kept secret,” the cadets were surprised to learn that three of the Army pilots who were hosting them had CAP connections.  Two of them were current senior members at the Apollo Composite Squadron in Georgetown, Texas and the other had been a cadet when he was younger.

“I joined CAP shortly after my 18th birthday with about 60 hours under my belt as a private pilot during my freshman year of college,” U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jahan Rabii said.  “I went to a few meetings … and quickly fell in love with the CAP mission sets.”

Today, Rabii is a CAP second lieutenant and the assistant deputy commander for cadets at the Apollo Composite Squadron.  He is also a mission pilot and a search and rescue officer which is a sharp contrast to his day job as an UH-60M assault helicopter pilot where he serves in an assault helicopter battalion.  He moves assault forces to engage and destroy enemy forces.  It is a combat operation intended to surprise the enemy. 

Rabii and U.S Army Capt. Christine Hogan, who like Rabii is a Blackhawk pilot except with a different mission (MEDEVAC), showed the cadets the various models of the Blackhawk. 

“It was my pleasure to host the cadets,” Hogan said.  “I really enjoy sharing my experiences with others,” she added.  Hogan is also a senior member with Rabii at the Apollo Composite Squadron.

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Stephen Napoli an Apache pilot and instructor, said the cadets’ level of knowledge about aviation and the questions they asked showed advanced awareness.

“I was really surprised at how much they knew and at some of the questions I was asked,” Napoli said. “It’s impressive.”

The cadets, parents and senior members in attendance felt the same way about their Army hosts.

“Wow, what an opportunity available to the cadets,” CAP parent Dan Guest said.  “I know that Ian will never forget this trip,” he added about his son’s visit.  “Knowing that some of the aviators we met that day who were cadets in CAP when they were younger is a strong testament to the CAP cadet program and developing interest in flying and the military.”

Rabii agrees about CAP’s value and during the visit was overheard trying to recruit a fellow officer to join CAP.

“My time with CAP is what set me apart,” Rabii said.  Although Rabii grew up in an aviation family, his grandfather led the Iranian Air Force and his aunt is a shuttle astronaut, he gives credit to his rise as an Army pilot to CAP.   

“Without CAP I absolutely would not have become an Army aviator,” Rabii said.  “In fact, I had little idea of how to enter military aviation before becoming a member of the CAP.  I spent a good deal of time day dreaming about being a hot shot military pilot in my youth but not until I became a full-fledged mission pilot with the Civil Air Patrol, getting called out to fly actual searches did I see the possibility of such a goal coming to light,” he said.

Rabii as a CAP pilot was selected to be one of the pilots in Operation Falcon Virgo, a series of exercises designed to test airspace security where he along with other CAP and military and civilian contractors flew missions in the White Sands restricted airspace. 

“I had the opportunity to meet and rub elbows with some great military pilots, some of which had moved on to becoming CAP pilots after retirement,” Rabii said.  “Those connections eventually led me to CAP members who actively were part of Army aviation.  They sold the idea of becoming an Army aviator to me … three months later I applied, and six months later I swore in as a warrant officer candidate on my way to flight school.

“CAP offers those interested in aviation a step up above the crowded sea of qualified applicants in aviation, “Rabii said.  “It is a very competitive field however you go about it and having CAP in your background is something that really makes you stand out.  CAP is what opened more doors than I ever imagined possible into an aviation career and I highly recommend it for whomever sees aviation in their future in any way,” Rabii said.

Cadet Senior Airman Ian Guest who has his eyes on a fixed wing career with the U.S. Air Force said he enjoyed learning about the Army’s aviation missions. 

“I thought it was cool that some of the pilots had a connection with CAP and … the pilots taught us a lot about their aircraft that was interesting information,” Ian said.  “They didn’t just say the usual stuff like how fast it goes and how high.  They told us stuff like how the Chinook was capable of landing on water and why some models cannot,” he added.

Rabii beamed when he showed the cadets the Blackhawk and he challenged them to ask about anything on the aircraft.  Not to be outdone, one cadet already new some of the preflight checks on the aircraft.

“That CAP visit to my airfield at Fort Hood was incredible,” Rabii said.  “Watching those cadets with wide eyes climbing all over the most sophisticated and powerful helicopters in the world was awesome.  I felt extremely privileged being afforded the opportunity that in some way may have been directly correlated in inspiring a future military aviator.  I never forget the moments that inspired me and with hope maybe those cadets won't forget either.”