Civil Air Patrol cadets support overseas troops in 'Operation Helmet'

Civil Air Patrol Cadet Lt. Col. Daniel Shellhouse assists Jeremiah Small, age 2-and-a-half, as he tries on an upgraded Advanced Combat Helmet at the Kingwood Kroger store.

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets from the Lake Houston-area Marauder Composite Squadron are asking the community to help provide helmet upgrade kits to American troops deployed to combat areas.

The effort, dubbed “Operation Helmet,” was devised by a retired Navy doctor to make the helmets more protective and more comfortable. In February, at booths throughout the community, the cadets have been encouraging passers-by to compare the upgraded helmet pads to the government-issue pads they have on display.

“The difference is obvious,” said CAP Cadet Lt. Col. Daniel Shellhouse, a junior at Kingwood High School who organized the effort. “The GI pads are stiff, they don't wick moisture and are not nearly as impact-resistant as the upgraded pads. It's not just about comfort; the new pads offer much greater protection as well.” 

The cadets' display also includes a stack of recent e-mails from front-line combat troops requesting the upgraded pads and pointing out the deficiencies of their GI issues.

“This is strictly a volunteer effort,” said Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Matthew Burrell, a senior at Kingwood Park High School. “No salaries or overhead come out of the donations. It all goes to helmet kits for front-line troops. Each kit costs $34, but donations of any amount are welcome.” 

Currently, the cadets have enough to supply a platoon of about 30 troops. Their goal is to provide at least 120 kits, the equivalent of a company or a squadron. They plan to adopt an entire unit before they deploy to Afghanistan or Iraq in the next month.

Cadets will present the Operation Helmet display at the Kingwood Kroger store on Saturday, Feb 26. Mail-in donations, which are tax deductible, may be made payable to Operation Helmet and sent to Operation Helmet at 3011 Emerald Grove Drive, Kingwood, Texas, 77345.

For more information regarding Operation Helmet, visit tx409.com and click on the “Membership” tab.