Civil Air Patrol, North Carolina Wing

 

Despite being the largest class in Middle East Region’s history, attendance is limited to a select group of students each year, requiring all students to be at least a Cadet Master Sergeant, have attended a Civil Air Patrol encampment, and be endorsed by their unit and wing commanders to attend. Those who graduate are expected to exemplify the highest ideals of CAP’s Cadet Program, equipped for the rigors of executive leadership and upper-level cadet command positions at the local, wing and national level. 

 

This year, participants gained exceptional experience in the arenas of public speaking, critical thinking, strategic leadership, and group problem-solving from a cadre of 18 CAP members from across the region, including four Spaatz Award recipients, two former wing directors of cadet programs, and a former member of CAP’s National Cadet Advisory Council. In addition to completing demanding academic courses and engaging in practical leadership application through projects, speeches, and team leadership problems, cadets also were given the opportunity to tour Fort Bragg and the USAF 21st Special Tactics Squadron, located on Pope Field, hold Q&A sessions with CAP and USAF leaders from across the region, and complete the base’s Leadership Reaction Course.

 

This year’s activity was jointly led by Major Barry Feinstein, CAP, the activity director, and Cadet Colonel Josiah Bilbrey, CAP, the activity’s cadet commander. Maj Feinstein, who serves in the United States Navy as a lieutenant aboard the USS George Washington, is a former cadet colonel in CAP who first attended RCLS in 2005, the activity he claims jumpstarted his CAP career. After attending RCLS, Maj Feinstein completed the cadet program, continuing in CAP as a senior member and serving as the activity director for multiple state and region events. 

 

Cadet Bilbrey, who earned his Spaatz Award in July 2018, credits his attendance of MER RCLS in 2017 with providing him invaluable leadership skills which he plans to exercise through a career with the United States Air Force. “RCLS taught me practical leadership skills like delegation, public speaking, and team leadership, that I use every day,” said Bilbrey. “The thing I love most about this activity is that it’s not leaders teaching followers; it’s about leaders helping other leaders.”

 

Upon completion, cadets have satisfied one of the many requirements for the General Ira C. Eaker Award and its associated promotion to Cadet Lieutenant Colonel. Recipients of this award have completed the final phase of the CAP Cadet Program, earning their place among the top 2% of all CAP cadets, with only the illustrious General Carl A. Spaatz Award remaining for their completion. Cadets who attend emerge better prepared for service as leaders both in CAP and in America’s military and civilian career fields.

 

2018 MER RCLS South graduates and awardees include:

 

DELAWARE Wing - Coastal Patrol Base 2 Memorial Composite Squadron:

Cadet Chief Master Sgt Gavin Beauchamp and Cadet 2nd Lt Joseph Klosiewicz

 

FLORIDA Wing - Jacksonville Composite Squadron:

Cadet Capt Joseph Burke 

 

MARYLAND Wing - Arundel Composite Squadron:

Cadet 1st Lt Hailey Boyd and Cadet Capt Matthew Fangio

 

Howard Composite Squadron:

Cadet 1st Lt Ethan Brown 

 

Carroll Composite Squadron:

Cadet Capt Laura Midkiff 

 

Mount Airy Composite Squadron:

Cadet Master Sgt Katherine Grasley 

 

Upper Montgomery Composite Squadron:

Cadet 1st Lt Katherine Weinhold (Honor Cadet Officer)

 

MICHIGAN Wing - Owosso Composite Squadron:

Cadet 2nd Lt Gabriella Orme 

 

NEW YORK Wing - Stalwart Cadet Squadron:

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Xavier De La Rosa 

 

NORTH CAROLINA Wing - Fayetteville Composite Squadron:

Cadet Senior Master Sgt Abigail Pope and Cadet 2nd Lt Ashlyn Wells

 

Ashville Composite Squadron:

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Micaiah Bilbrey and Cadet 2nd Lt. Andrew Blankinship 

 

Gastonia Composite Squadron:

Cadet Capt Anthony DiPasquale 

 

Shelby Composite Squadron:

Cadet Capt Ryan Buckton 

 

Pitt-Greenville Composite Squadron:

Cadet Chief Master Sgt Natalia Randolph 

 

Winston Salem Composite Squadron:

Cadet Master Sgt Zach Fernandez 

 

Randolph Composite Squadron:

Cadet Master Sgt Adam Stone, Cadet Senior Master Sgts Karly Jordan and Kolby Jordan, Cadet 1st Lt Kacie Jordan, and Cadet Capt Cameron Smith 

 

Goldsboro Composite Squadron:

Cadet Chief Master Sgt Aiden Peditto 

 

Franklin County Composite Squadron:

Cadet Capt Korey Floyd 

 

Boone Composite Squadron:

Cadet Master Sgt Calvin Williamson and Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Caden Cothren 

 

Brunswick County Composite Squadron:

Cadet Master Sgt Philip Nazzaro 

 

Composite Squadron of the Waxhaws:

Cadet Chief Master Sgt Isabella Ross and Cadet Maj Ryan David 

 

Apex Cadet Squadron:

Cadet 1st Lt Jacob Moorman and Cadet Maj Jonathan Sellers 

 

Guilford Composite Squadron:

Cadet Master Sgts Ella Gott, Sage Gott, and Isabella Wright, Cadet Chief Master Sgt Tavia Copening, and Cadet Capt Aidan Kelley 

 

RAF MILDENHALL Overseas Cadet Squadron - Cadet 2nd Lt Arianna Barker 

 

SOUTH CAROLINA Wing

Florence Composite Squadron:

Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Trae Ann Proell 

 

Lexington Composite Squadron:

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Farhat 

 

Anderson Composite Squadron:

Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Sarah Hampton 

 

Low Country Composite Squadron:

Cadet 2nd Lt. Payton Mercer 

 

VIRGINIA Wing

Herndon Composite Squadron:

Cadet Master Sgt. Pranav Ravella

 

Lynchburg Composite Squadron:

Cadet Capt. William Heppding (Outstanding Speaker Award)

 

Montgomery Composite Squadron:

Cadet 2nd Lt. Anna Haas

 

Newport-News Composite Squadron:

Cadet Chief Master Sgts. Mark Roose and Caleb Song, Cadet 1st Lts. Ryan Adams and William Fronkier, and Cadet Capt. Benjamin Roose 

 

West Richmond Cadet Squadron:

Cadet Capt. Noah Fuller 

 

Coastal Composite Squadron:

Cadet Master Sgts. Oliver Hewitt-Qualls, Jacob Holinger, Samuel Morrow, and Simon Thurston, and Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Kylie Mulvey

 

Prince William Composite Squadron:

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Ethan Cole

Cadet 2nd Lt. Evan Heindreich

 

Leesburg Composite Squadron:

Cadet Master Sgt. Ethan Jardines 

 

Burke Composite Squadron:

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Joan Gibson (Honor Cadet NCO)

 

 

Cadet Cadre for 2018 MER RCLS included:

 

Cadet Col. Josiah Bilbrey, NC Wing, Cadet Commander

Cadet Maj. Noah Beauchamp, DE Wing, Cadet Executive Officer

Cadet Lt. Col. Tyler Smith, NC Wing, Cadet Support Officer

Cadet 1st Lt. James Edwards, NC Wing, Charlie Flight Commander

Cadet Maj. Robert Lewis, NC Wing, Golf Flight Commander

Cadet Lt. Col. Grant McDaris, NC Wing, Hotel Flight Commander

Cadet Capt. Bryce Jackson, NC Wing, Tango Flight Commander

Cadet Maj. Madeline Nagele, NC Wing, Whiskey Flight Commander

Cadet 1st Lt. Mia Keegan, NC Wing, Zulu Flight Commander

 

Senior Cadre for 2018 MER RCLS included:

 

Maj. Barry Feinstein, VA Wing, Activity Director

Capt. Harrison Nagele, NC Wing, Deputy Commander of Cadets

Capt. Kate Maxfield, NC Wing, Deputy Commander of Support

Capt. Roger Sayers, SC Wing, Chief Training Officer

Capt. Tyler Hoover, SC Wing, Training Officer

Capt. Jordan Crawford, NC Wing,  Safety, Administration, and Health Services Officer

1st Lt. Jane Proell, SC Wing, Transportation Officer

2nd Lt. Timothy Johnson, NC Wing, Logistics Officer

2nd Lt. Brent Chappell, MD Wing, Public Affairs Officer

 

The Middle East Region of CAP encompasses the states of South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, as well as the District of Columbia (National Capital Wing). Composed of 7,600 members, 3,653 of whom are cadets between the ages of 12 and 20, the region flew over 14,000 hours in 62 aircraft last year in support of CAP’s missions and the region’s motto of “No Borders – No Boundaries.”