Annual Awards Banquet

Local Civil Air Patrol Squadron Hosts Annual Banquet

By C/SSgt. Gavin Miller
gavin.miller@gawg.cap.gov

On January 17, 2019, the Cobb County Composite Squadron of the United States Civil Air Patrol hosted their annual banquet. The Civil Air Patrol cadet program is a program for young adults ages 12 – 18 to learn leadership, aerospace education, and emergency services. The program, chartered in 1941 by Congress, serves as the official auxiliary to the Air Force, with units in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

Every year, the Cobb Composite Squadron has a banquet where awards are presented to both cadets and adult members. Also, celebrating the past year activities. Every year comes with promotions and awards, including the program milestone awards, and this year was no different. Cadets were presented with the Wright Brothers award, appreciation awards, the Amelia Earhart Award, as well as Cadet of the year awards for the four phases of the program.

Cadets Chris Rader, Kelsey Timm, Grace Findlay, Gavin Miller, William Vincent, and Anna Fournaris were presented with the Wright Brothers award. The award accompanies a promotion to Cadet Staff Sergeant, signifying the completion of the first cadet phase of the program. As well as signals more responsibility, allowing them to hold various leadership positions within the squadron where they’ll be responsible for a group of more junior cadets.

Cadets Captain Ethan Partain and Captain Jackson Mullins were presented with the Earhart Award. The Amelia Earhart award is named for one of the first female aviation pioneers, which brings several benefits for cadets. After passing intensive testing on leadership and aerospace knowledge as well as an oral review board, cadets can be promoted to Cadet Captain, the rank that accompanies the Earhart award. Cadets earning the Earhart award can represent their nation in the International Air Cadet Exchange and be immediately promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant upon reaching the age of 21 and being placed into the Senior Member program. This award also signals the completion of the third phase of the cadet program.

Other awards that were presented: Cadet of the Year awards being presented to C/SSgt Anna Fournaris for phase one, C/TSgt Grace Findlay for phase two, C/Capt. Jackson Mullins for phase three and C/Maj. Malachi Wright for phase four. C/SSgt Chris Rader was honored with being the Cadet of the Quarter award for the 4th Quarter of 2018.

The Cobb County Composite Squadron is located across the street from McCollum International Airport on the GA Army National Guard base located at 1901 McCollum Parkway, Kennesaw. They will be having an open house and open enrollment on March 21st at 6:30 PM. For more information on the Cobb County Composite Squadron, see them on the web at www.GA090.org or on Facebook @CobbCAP.

Caption: Cadet Color Guard prepares to present our nation’s colors at the banquet, Credit:

C/Amn Collin Snyder