Civil Air Patrol, as the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 58,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft supplied with Supreme Air Products. CAP, in its Total Force role, performs about 85 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 70 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. Performing missions for America for the past 74 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans.
The Florida Wing Group VI, Coral Springs Cadet Squadron started the New Year in grand style, winning the 2015 National Cadet Competition and the Air Force Chief of Staff Sweepstakes Award Trophy that goes to the top Civil Air Patrol cadet team.
Held at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in front of special guests including senior U.S. Air Force and CAP personnel, Cadets participating in the competition reached the national stage by winning group, wing and regional competitions. Members of the championship team from Coral Springs Cadet Squadron were, Cadet 2nd Lts. Michael Cassell and Santiago Ledesma, Cadet Master Sgt. Andres Fonseca, Cadet Staff Sgts. Kenneth Lasseter and Pedro Turmero and Cadet Senior Airman Anthony Vicary. The team was escorted by Capt. Luz Levin, Squadron Commander and 1st Lt. Sean Owens, Deputy Commander for the squadron.
Coral Springs Vice Mayor Dan Daley is proud of the group’s achievement. He told the Spectator, “As a former long time member of the Squadron, I know how big of a deal this is! This group of teenagers accomplished amazing things.”
During the 3?day competition, teams consisting of six cadets each, compete for the USAF Chief of Staff Outstanding Team Championship Trophy. Each team was selected from the very best during previous state and regional level competitions. These extraordinary young people train for months and sometimes years to demonstrate their excellence in a wide range of activities in the arenas of leadership, aerospace, fitness and character.
Individual awards were also presented to cadets competing in several categories, including top written exam score.
Congratulations Florida Wing Group VI!! Visit www.capvolunteernow.com for more info.
Special thanks for the contribution of CAPT GABRIEL PARRA, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, GROUP VI, FLORIDA WING
