Civil Air Patrol Program Goes beyond Usual Lessons; Fitness, Nutrition, Exercise Are All Part of the Junior Cadet Program

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Byline: SANDY STRICKLAND

After seeing the drill team go through its precision-sharp maneuvers, Shelby Asher was inspired.

The fourth-grader dropped to the gym floor at Christ the King Elementary School and began doing pushups.

Shelby is participating in a pilot Civil Air Patrol Junior Cadet Program for elementary schools. Bishop Kenny High School's four-man ROTC team came to the Arlington school to demonstrate its military-style moves.

And, by the way, its members do more than 100 pushups every day. So Shelby and a couple of classmates wanted to show they could do some, too.

The Larkin Road school is one of 20 in the United States and …