Civil Air Patrol, North Carolina Wing

 

The color guard team from the Puerto Rico Wing based at the Muniz ANG Base Cadet Squadron skillfully amassed enough points to be awarded overall first place, while the Pembrook-Pines squadron located near Miramar, Florida came in second. The Middle East Region team from Charlotte, North Carolina (the 111th) took third place in overall competition. The teams representing CAP’s eight regions were chosen in rounds of regional competitions held amongst the winners of the 52 wings across the nation.

 

The Northeast Region was represented by teams from the Hanscom Composite Squadron in Massachusetts and the 103rd Composite Squadron from the Connecticut Wing, while the Middle East Region was represented by the teams from the 111th Search and Rescue Squadron in North Carolina and the Frederick Composite Squadron from the Maryland Wing. Grand Rapids Metro Cadet Squadron and Kevin A. Adams Memorial Composite Squadron represented the Great Lakes Region while the Muniz ANG Base Cadet Squadron from Puerto Rico and the Pembroke Pines Composite Squadron from Florida were fielded from the Southeast Region. The North Central Region teams came from the Wentzville Composite Squadron from the Missouri Wing and the Big Sioux Composite Squadron from South Dakota. Teams from the Southwest region were the Edmond Composite Squadron and Starbase Composite Squadron from Oklahoma. The Rocky Mountain Region was represented by two teams both from the Colorado Wing: the Colorado Springs Cadet Squadron and the Vance Brand Cadet Squadron. The Pacific Coast Region fielded teams from the Diablo Composite Squadron and the Skyhawk Composite Squadron in California.

 

This year’s National Cadet Competition was organized and run by CAP Lt. Col Robert W. Shaw and his staff of 22 senior members and 18 cadets.

 

This year teams competed in several events including a timed mile run, a uniform inspection, a Jeopardy-style aerospace knowledge quiz and a multiple-choice leadership, aerospace education and current event exam. Teams also were also given several elective events such as geocaching, robotics and public speaking. They were also required to perform specific tasks requiring precision and teamwork ranging from a problem-solving exercise to the formality of posting of the American Colors both inside and outdoors. 

 

The winning Puerto Rico team consisted of six cadet members. They practiced for months on end to hone their color guard skills and learn U.S. Air Force flag techniques. They include C/Lt.Col. Kevin Negron (the Color Guard Commander), C/Lt. Col. Orlando Rohena, C/Lt. Col. Joem Serrano, C/Lt. Col. Alvin Lopez, C/Capt. Carlos Munoz and C/2d Lt. Luis H. Rivera. The Puerto Rico team escorts, Lt. Col. Ivan Reyes and Lt. Col. Ismael Rodriguez, accompanied the team to the competition from San Juan, PR.

 

The teams and individuals who placed first in their events were: 

 

*Indoor Presentation: Michigan Wing, Grand Rapids Metro Composite Sqdn

 

*Outdoor Presentation: Puerto Rico Wing, Muniz ANG Base Cadet Squdn 

 

*Highest Score Written Exam Individual: C/SMSgt Robert Velte, Maryland Wing, Frederick Composite Sqdn

 

*Written Exam: Maryland Wing, Frederick Composite Sqdn 

 

*CPFT (Individual): C/1st Lt. Simon Mahns, Maryland Wing, Frederick Composite Sqdn

 

*CPFT (Team): Florida Wing, Pembroke Pines Composite Sqdn

 

*Team Leadership Problem: Maryland Wing, Frederick Composite Sqdn

 

*Uniform Inspection Overall: Puerto Rico Wing, Muniz ANG Base Cadet Sqdn  

*Community Service Project: North Carolina Wing, 111th Search and Rescue Sqdn

 

*Public Speaking: Florida Wing, Pembroke Pines Composite Sqdn 

 

*Robotics: Puerto Rico Wing, Muniz ANG Base Cadet Sqdn

 

*Geocaching: Maryland Wing, Frederick Composite Sqdn 

 

*Jeopardy: Florida Wing, Pembroke Pines Composite Sqdn

 

The NCC awards were presented following a banquet held at Wright State University which formally concluded the competition. They were presented by CAP Lt. Col. Robert W. Shaw and National Commander selectee Col. Mark W. Smith, marking his first appearance in that capacity. Also in attendance was CAP’s National Corporate Operations Officer John Salvadore.

 

A special note of thanks went out to the volunteer staff from across the nation without whose efforts an event of this scale would not have been possible.

 

The National Cadet Competition is one of more than 30 National Cadet Special Activities being sponsored by CAP across the nation this summer. These activities allow cadets to hone their skills in a variety of areas – including search and rescue, flight and emergency services, science, leadership fundamentals, citizenship and military courtesies – and to explore aerospace technology and aviation careers.