Harford squadron cadet receives General Billy Mitchell Award

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Caleb Eyler, was promoted to Cadet Second Lieutenant and received the General Billy Mitchell Award, Monday March 18, 2019. Lieutenant Colonel David E. Roberts (CAP) presented the award and congratulated Eyler during a ceremony attended by his parents, unit members and guests.

2d Lt. Eyler is a 13 year old homeschooled student and cadet member of the Harford Composite squadron, who is committed to service before self, excellence in character, and professional development. Eyler enjoys reading historical fiction, kayaking, hiking, and dedicating his time to Civil Air Patrol. He aspires to serve in the military, but is unsure of which branch of service, and what career path to pursue at the moment.

Eyler has been a member of the Harford Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) since June of 2017. He earned this prestigious achievement in only 20 months. “This is considerably faster than most cadets,” stated Lt Col David Roberts, the unit’s commander. Roberts said that Eyler has served in a variety of positons including as part of the squadron Color Guard team, Search and Rescue, and a flight commander. He is planning to attend the Honor Guard Academy this summer in Virginia, and was also selected to staff the 2019 Tri-Wing Encampment located at Camp Fretterd as a cadet staff member.

Eyler currently serves as the "Alpha" flight commander training new cadets, which affords him the opportunity to lead by example. He has been working diligently to prepare for training he will be receiving in preparation of the 2019 Tri-Wing Encampment. Eyler hopes to achieve The General Carl A. Spaatz Award, Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet honor. It is presented to cadets who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education

The General Billy Mitchell Award has existed since 1964. This award honors the late General Billy Mitchell, an aviation pioneer, advocate, and staunch supporter of an independent air force for America.

The Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force, has three primary missions: Aerospace Education of the American people, Emergency Services, and the Cadet Program. The Cadet Program provides opportunities for the learning, maturing, accepting, and nurturing of leadership to over 26,000 young Americans from 12 to 20 years of age. With the advice and assistance from CAP Senior Members and the US Air Force, cadets are exposed to a structured program comprised of aerospace education, leadership, special activities, physical fitness, and moral and ethical values through group and individual activities.

This structured Cadet Program is divided into sixteen segments called achievements, involving study and performance in the five program areas. Upon completion of each achievement, the cadet earns increased responsibility, decorations, awards, eligibility to apply for national special activities, and opportunities for both flight and academic scholarships.

The first milestone of the Cadet Program is the General Billy Mitchell Award, which is earned after the completion of the first eight achievements of the cadet program. In addition, the cadet must pass a comprehensive 100-question examination covering leadership theory and aerospace topics. To further highlight the significance of this accomplishment, the award number, 69,826 as printed on Eyler’s certificate, represents the number of awards earned since the Mitchell Award’s inception in 1964.

Being such an important milestone in the CAP Cadet Program, the General Billy Mitchell Award is normally presented by a CAP Group Commander or higher, the wing director of cadet programs, or a state or federal government elected official. Once a cadet earns the General Billy Mitchell Award, he or she is promoted to the grade of Cadet 2d Lieutenant. Any cadet who has received this award, and who later enters CAP’s Senior Member program, is eligible for immediate promotion to CAP 2d Lieutenant at age 21.

Cadets who receive the General Billy Mitchell Award are also eligible for advanced placement to the grade of E-3 (Airman First Class) should they choose to enter the US Air Force. They are also eligible for advanced credit in AFROTC, various CAP scholarships, and CAP special activity opportunities.

Harford Squadron is a composite of both senior and youth programs. The Squadron meet on Monday nights, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the STEM Center Building 4508, located at 6483 Wayberry Rd at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Have a passion for aviation, dream of flight, are considering a career in the military? Want to serve your community and enhance your leadership skills? Join us. Youths, ages 12 to 18, parents and adults interested in the cadet and/or senior program are always welcome to visit our meetings and talk with our staff. Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/CAP.MER.MD008/

Nearly 1,500 members serve in the CAP’s Maryland Wing. Last year wing members flew 13 actual search and rescue missions. Overall, the Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland, flying 2,245 hours in all mission categories, and was credited with four finds. Volunteers contributed services estimated at $4.6 million. For more information, contact the Maryland Wing at mdwg.cap.gov or follow the wing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandWingCivilAirPatrol

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 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 82 lives annually. CAP’s 61,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to over 25,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.

2nd Lt Michelle Travers, CAP

Public Affairs Officer

Harford Composite Squadron

michelle.travers@mdwg.cap.gov