4 October 2007
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - On 8 Sep 07, the Lackland Cadets participating in a Model Rocketry course and the course Instructor, SM Brian Sommers, launched rockets at a nearby farm location in San Antonio, Texas.

The cadets spent two Saturdays, 18 Aug 07 and 1 Sep 07, and Labor day, 3 Sep 07, building their model rockets and taking the written exams of all three phases (Redstone, Titan and Saturn). The cadets completed the course with a basic knowledge of rocket history, the pioneers of aerospace history and proper safety procedures for launching model rockets. Each phase also had a hands-on part, which requires the cadets to build certain types of model rockets. On, 8 Sep 07, a total of fifty-rockets were launched, including; Alphas, Terrier-Orions, Bullpups, Egg-Launchers, Two-Stage rockets , High Flyer rockets and the bonus 6ft rocket. The cadets who launched three-rockets earned their Model Rocketry Badge.

Ten Lackland Cadets participated - C/1st Lt Jeffrey Cigrang, C/SrA Melissa Courreges, C/AB William Courreges, C/TSgt Kaitlyn Jewell, C/TSgt Kristopher Kerr, C/SSgt Nicole Miglis, C/SSgt Daniel Perez, C/MSgt Brian Rankin, C/CMSgt Colleen Rojas, C/SrA Katherine Sommers.


Lackland CAPTX007 Cadets posed for a team picture during class time.

Instructor SM Brian Sommers explains the safety procedures when launching rockets from the launch pads.

Lackland Cadets with their rockets before launching time.

lackland Cadets record the type of rocket launch they will be doing in a log book while other Cadets put the finishing touch on their rockets.

C/TSgt Kris Kerr and C/AB William Courreges inspect their rockets and prepare for launching.

C/1st Lt Jeffrey Cigrang, C/SSgt Daniel Perez, C/SSgt Nicole Miglis, and C/SrA Katherine Sommers put the rockets on the launch pad and secure the rocket to the launch pad.








R to L. C/SSgt Nicole Miglis give a “thumbs up” to C/TSgt Kris Kerr’s egg launcher before he closes the capsule. C/SrA Katherine Sommers looks on.




L to R. Instructor SM Brian Sommers and C/SSgt Nicole Miglis launch their rocket.









Rockets in the air.









L to R. Instructor SM Brian Sommers , C/SSgt Daniel Perez, and C/1st Lt Jeffrey Cigrang, observe the 6-foot rocket launch.








C/SrA Katherine Sommers recovers the 6-foot rocket.

Article submitted by C/SrA Melissa Courreges and Photos submitted by SM Nancy Kerr and SM Crystal Sommer