MAXWELL AFB, Ala. — Thirty-two of Civil Air Patrol’s top cadets will be in Washington, D.C. during the week of Feb. 28 for CAP’s first national Civic Leadership Academy.
The cadets were selected from CAP squadrons throughout the nation, based on their records of leadership and their experience in CAP’s mission areas, including community service, aerospace education and emergency services.
The cadets will be headquartered at Hilton Crystal City during the week, and will divide their time among class sessions, presentations from all branches of government, visits to significant sites in the Washington D.C. area, and team projects.
Among their topics will be:
· Persuasive leadership (How do political leaders build consensus?)
· Federal government (What are the roles of the three branches of government? How do press, lobbyists, and civil service relate to the government?)
· American heritage (What do our nation’s memorials tell us about America?)
· Careers in public service (How should cadets prepare for public service careers?)
During the academy, the cadets will visit the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Air & Space Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, and the U.S. State Dept. Among their speakers will be Lt. Gen. Charles Searock, an Air Force retiree who is currently with the CAP New Jersey Wing, staff from the Washington Post, and representatives from all branches of government.
The Academy will culminate with CAP’s annual Legislative Day, during which CAP commanders from throughout the country will visit personally with their states’ lawmakers on the Hill. The cadets will assist in these visits and participate in the discussions.
“We believe the Civic Leadership Academy will be an effective way to instill in our cadets a sense of civic responsibility,” said Maj. Gen. Richard Bowling, CAP national commander. “This is a unique chance for them to spend time in our nation’s capital, see our political processes up close, and talk with the lawmakers who are influencing our country’s future. We expect this to be one of CAP’s most educational and popular programs.”
Civil Air Patrol, the official Air Force auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with almost 62,000 members nationwide. It performs 95% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 60 years.
Cadets attending the Civic Leadership Academy will include:
Nicholas Wikar – Hamilton, Mich.
Michael Dunn – Woodridge, Ill.
Rebecca Smith – Champaign, Ill.
Scott Carlan – Rock Hill, S.C.
Sharon Weeks – Chapel Hill, N.C.
Megan McIntosh – Fairfax Station, Va.
James Colgan – Upper Darby, Pa.
Claire Belden – Springfield, Mass.
Emily Holt – Waterford, Conn.
Joshua Thomas – Sun Valley, Ca.
Raechelle Velock – Graham, Wash.
Maegan Johnson – Twin Peaks, Ca.
Cynthia Fry – Steamboat, Col.
Amanda Powell – Littleton, Col.
Matt Frappier – Salt Lake City, Utah
Andrew Johnson – Decatur, Ala.
Will Boyd – Dayton, Tenn.
Tara Guthrie – New Port Richey, Fla.
Christie Ducote – Gretna, La.
Sean Whisenhut – Phoenix, Ariz.
Patrick Patterson – Stillwater, Okla.
Janna Fosterling – Hudson, Wis.
James Rolfsen – Omaha, Neb.
Aaron Church – Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Charles Benson - Bloomington, Ind.
Kaycee Gilbert – Estancia, N.M.
Nick Carvan – Leawood, Kan.
Beth Wirth – Whitehall, Pa.
Michael Blackey – Redwood City, Ca.
Mason Kehs – Evanston, Ill.
Elizabeth Semple - Montana City, Mont.
John Reutemann – Dalton, Pa.
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