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North Carolina Wing Cadet Competition Takes Place in Fayetteville

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Members of the 111th Search and Rescue Squadron Team A pose with their 1st Place Overall Winner Trophy. Photo Credit: 1st Lt H.J. Bentley III, CAP (click image to view full size)
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111th Repeats to Takes Top Honors at Competition

By 1st Lt H.J. Bentley III, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, Charlotte Senior Squadron

2/6/2018–FAYETTEVILLE, NC–The North Carolina Wing Cadet Competition took place 2-3 Feb 2018, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In one of the closest competitions in years, five teams from across the state competed for the opportunity to represent North Carolina at the Middle East Region Cadet Competition.

Working under the direction of Maj Michael Willis, NC Wing Cadet Competition Activity Director, his staff of seven senior members and 10 cadets oversaw the activities of more than 30 cadets from across the Wing. Additional judging staff was provided by six members of the USAF Base Honor Guard from Pope Army Airfield.

USAF 2d Lt Brittany O’Brian, Officer in Charge of the Pope Army Airfield Honor Guard said, “It was an honor for me and my team to have judged this competition for the Civil Air Patrol and to have instilled our expertise upon the next generation of airmen.”
 
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) has held cadet competitions since 1948, just seven years after CAP was founded, and this year represents the 70th year of cadet competitions.
 
The cadets competed on six-member teams demonstrating skills in events that involve precision and teamwork. These skills include indoor and outdoor color guard challenges, a written test of leadership and aerospace knowledge, a physical fitness test, team leadership problems, group problem-solving challenges, drill and a uniform inspection.
 
“This competition helps develop leadership, promotes teamwork and respect for the United States flag and all that the flag represents, it’s also a vivid example of our core values,” said Maj Willis.
 
The color guard team from the 111th Search and Rescue Squadron Team A took overall first place in the competition. There was a tie for second place between the Boone Composite Squadron and the 111th Search and Rescue Squadron Team B, with the tie breaker giving second place to Boone. The first and second place teams, the 111th Search and Rescue Team A and the Boone Composite Squadron, will go on to represent the North Carolina Wing at the Middle East Region Competition. They will compete against teams from South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware and the National Capital Wing.
 
USAF MSgt Travis Pope, one of the judges for the competition said, “Overall the drill was a positive representation of each team and with additional practice will make a great showing at the next level of competition.”
 
The teams and individuals who placed first in their events were:
 
*Indoor Presentation: Boone Composite Squadron
 
*Outdoor Presentation: 111th Search & Rescue Squadron Team A
 
*Highest Score Written Exam Team: 111th Search & Rescue Squadron Team A
 
*Highest Score Written Exam Individual: C/Capt Mason Berger (111th Search & Rescue Squadron)
 
*CPFT (Individual): C/Lt Col Kate Fitzpatrick (Boone Composite Squadron)
 
*CPFT (Team): 111th Search & Rescue Squadron Team A
 
*Team Leadership Problem: Apex Composite Squadron

 *Public Speaking: 111th Search & Rescue Squadron Team B (C/TSgt Mitchell Bailey) 

*Uniform Inspection Overall: Goldsboro Composite Squadron

*Standard Drill: 111th Search & Rescue Squadron Team A 

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