2026 Encampment Day 4
Encampment Day 4
Awards
Honor Flight: Alpha
Honor Squadron: Squadron 3
Student: C/Amn Devan St. Thomas, Hotel Flight
Line Support NCO: C/TSgt Camryn Lumsden, Delta Flight
Line Support Officer: C/Lt Col Thomas Moebes, Squadron 3 Commander
Staff Department: Public Affairs Team
Staff Support NCO: C/SMSgt Carson Cook, Public Affairs Team
Staff Support Officer: C/1st Lt Jackson Winn, Administration Team
New Heights: Day Four at Encampment
As encampment enters its fourth day, cadets are forming friendships that may last a lifetime. They are settling into the daily rhythm, while staff continue building rapport and learning the strengths of each cadet in their flights.
Today’s schedule centered on classroom instruction and drill. Cadets participated in eye‑opening lessons, including Aerospace Education, STEM, and overviews of National Cadet Special Activities, giving them a deeper look at the opportunities ahead in their cadet careers.
By this point in the week, cadets are showing marked improvement in both drill and teamwork. Even stormy weather couldn’t slow their momentum. Activities such as the Team Leadership Problem (TLP) continued indoors, reinforcing communication, problem‑solving, and camaraderie. Although some evening events were cancelled due to shifting weather conditions, cadets used the extra time to bond with their flights while staying safe.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” That spirit is evident throughout the encampment as cadets discover shared goals, challenges, and passions.
When cadets look back on their first encampment, they won’t remember it as just another activity. They’ll remember it as the moment they took the next step in their cadet journey—an experience that shaped them as leaders and as individuals. Encampment is where cadets learn together, lead together, and grow together.
As the week continues, both students and staff look forward to the days ahead, ready for new challenges, new lessons, and new heights.
Written by Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Henry Thatch
