Flanick Twins receive Mitchell Awards at Mt. Airy’s Change of Command Ceremony

2nd Lt. Stacey Bowen, CAP

Public Affairs Officer

Mt. Airy Composite Squadron, MD

10/31/2008 – MT. AIRY, MARYLAND – Cadets Kyle and Trevor Flanick of the Mt. Airy Composite Squadron in the Maryland Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), received their General Billy Mitchell Awards on Thursday evening, October 30, 2008 at the Mt. Airy Senior and Community Center during a promotion and change of command ceremony.  The ceremony, led by squadron commander Maj. Judith McLellan, was attended by Group 1 Commander, Lt. Col. Eric Haertel, who presented the awards. 

The General Billy Mitchell Award is the second milestone award in the CAP cadet program and is earned after completing the first eight achievements.  This award honors the late Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell, aviation pioneer, advocate, and staunch supporter of an independent Air Force for America.  Earning this award marks the end of the enlisted phase of the cadet program and the beginning of the officer phase.  

Cadets earning the Mitchell Award receive the grade of cadet second lieutenant.  In addition to this, Mitchell recipients may enter the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, or U.S. Coast Guard at the advance pay grade of E-3 (airman first class).   

To earn this award, the Flanicks passed a combined leadership and aerospace exam, a physical fitness test, and a uniform inspection.  They also directed moral leadership discussions, mentored other cadets, attended squadron activities and a CAP encampment, and passed a board of review.  The enlisted phase of the CAP cadet program requires a minimum service time of 18 months.   

Kyle and Trevor, age 17, joined CAP in the fall of 2004.  They have participated in Honor Guard activities and attended the 2007 Tri-Wing Encampment.  Currently in their senior year of high school, these homeschooled cadets also attend classes at Frederick Community College.  They are Sergeants in the Christian Service Brigade, and volunteer their summers as counselors at the Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp in West Virginia.  Both are lifeguards at Mount Saint Mary’s University, and are engaged in hobbies such as rock climbing, ballroom dancing, marksmanship, physical fitness training, backpacking and camping. 

Following the Mitchell presentation, Cadet 2nd Lt. Kyle Flanick was appointed the squadron’s new cadet commander, accepting the guidon from Cadet Lt. Col. Zach Bowen.  Bowen had served as cadet commander since September of 2007.   

During the promotions portion of the ceremony, two cadets, Shiloh Lockard and Kevin Lohoefer, received their Wright Brothers Awards, and were promoted to cadet Staff Sergeant.  Cadet Robert Greer was promoted to Cadet Senior Airman, and cadets Ryan Brown and Ashley Petersen received promotions to Cadet Airman.  Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Joshua Newsome received a ribbon designating completion of his Armstrong Achievement, as well as a Community Service Ribbon marking 60 hours of community service outside of CAP.  Cadet Lt. Col. Bowen received a Search and Rescue “Find” ribbon.  Cadets Kyle and Trevor Flanick, Kevin Lohoefer, and Officers Tim Bowen and Bob Dickey received their Advanced Communications Users Training cards.  1st Lt. Ron Long, the squadron’s logistics officer, received recognition from Maryland Wing as their Cadet Programs Advocate of the Year. 

The Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U. S. Air Force, was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U. S. into World War II. CAP is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. The organization’s members perform 95 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, and were credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.

Members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 25,000 young people currently participating in the CAP Cadet Program. CAP’s cadet programs provide young men and women with a safe and motivating environment in which to grow and explore opportunities in the military and aviation industries. CAP has been performing mission for American for more than 63 years.

There are approximately 1,300 members of CAP in Maryland. Last fiscal year wing members flew 42 search and rescue missions and were credited with 31 finds. For more information, visit www.mdcap.org.

The Mount Airy Composite Squadron meets at 7p.m. Thursdays at the Mount Airy Senior and Community Center, 703 Ridge Ave., Mount Airy.  Prospective cadets, ages 12 to 18, and their parents are always welcome.  Adults seeking mentoring opportunities are invited as well.  For more information, e-mail contactus@mtairy-cap.org , call 301-829-9057, or visit www.mtairy-cap.org .

Photos courtesy of 2^nd Lt. Stacey Bowen, CAP and Officer Brian Winters:

Any comments and/or suggestions: webmaster@mtairy-cap.org.