MAXWELL AFB, Ala. — Cadets from Civil Air Patrol’s Pacific and Middle East regions took top honors at the National Cadet Competition, June 25-28, at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.

The winning drill team represented the state of Delaware, while the top color guard team was comprised of cadets from California.

The four-day national competition drew the top 168 of over 27,000 cadets who participate nationwide in CAP programs. The cadets were judged on military drills, inspection, protocol and leadership skills. They also competed in a written exam and a mile run. 

Competition was fierce, since the eight competing teams had advanced to the national competition after winning at the preliminary local, state (wing) and region levels.  “I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get first place,” said Cadet Master Sgt. Katie Broyles of the Michigan Wing color guard team, “but I discovered that it’s more than a competition. We were honoring the United States of America, and that’s important to me. I really felt proud of what we accomplished and so did the rest of my team.”

“National Cadet Competition draws the cream of the crop among America’s young people,” said Maj. Gen. Richard Bowling, CAP’s national commander.  “These are young men and women who willingly give up their free time to volunteer for CAP.  Each time I’m around them, I realize all over again how fortunate we are to have young people of this caliber preparing to assume positions of leadership in our country.”

Finishing first in the drill team competition was the Delaware Wing cadet team representing CAP’s Middle East Region. Second place went to the Puerto Rico team, representing the Southeast Region, and third place was awarded to the Great Lakes Region team, representing the Illinois Wing.

The Pacific Region’s California Wing team took top honors in the color guard competition, followed by the Middle East Region’s National Capital Wing team in second place and the Florida Wing team representing the Southeast Region in third.

Other teams making it to the national drill team competition included cadets from New York, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Colorado and Washington.  Finalists for the color guard competition represented Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas and Montana.

CAP cadets, who range in age from 12 to 21, follow a four-phase national program which is entirely voluntary. To advance in the program, cadets must complete work in aerospace history and technology, military-style and moral leadership skills, public speaking and writing. They undergo field training in physical fitness and survival skills. The cadets also receive flight training, including long-range flight and charting skills and rocket design.  They learn teamwork as part of a functioning squadron and participate in drills and color guard ceremonies.

CAP has become especially important in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, since CAP volunteer pilots are trained to patrol the nation’s skies and assist in search and rescue missions. The CAP cadet program is a first step in teaching teens about disaster relief and search and rescue operations, both of which become essential during a national crisis.

The nonprofit CAP is the official Air Force auxiliary with more than 64,000 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 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 60 years.

Members of the first place color guard team from California were:

Cadet Laura Borenstein, San Diego

Cadet Wade Wright, Fallbrook

Cadet Ken Beach, Encinitas

Cadet Nicole Kim, Vista

Cadet Eric Perry, Vista

Senior escort for the team was Randy McClure, Escondido. Also escorting the team was Thomas Gray of Carlsbad.


Members of the first place drill team from Delaware were:

Cadet Michael Beaver, Wilmington

Cadet Carl Bevard, Huntingtown MD

Cadet Dustin DiEleuterio, Rising Sun MD

Cadet Casey Drosehn, Newark

Cadet Jason Ewing, Hockessin

Cadet Jeremiah Ewing, Hockessin

Cadet Katherine Ewing, Hockessin

Cadet Mark Hollinshead, Wilmington

Cadet Ryan McGaha, Middletown

Cadet Jonathan Offen, Georgetown

Cadet Katie Offen, Georgetown

Cadet Nicole Ramos, Dover

Cadet Mark Russell, Newark

Cadet David Schirling, Elkton MD

Cadet Nathaniel Seely, Greenwood

Cadet Nikolas Twyford, Long Neck

Senior escort for the team was John McGaha of Middleton, assisted by Barbara Ewing of Hockessin.