Volunteers serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.

If you would like to support a local squadron with donated uniforms and boots, please contact Donate Uniforms or contact a local squadron near you.

Meet Senior Airman Deyton Talley of the Texas Wing's Ellington Composite Squadron, a former cadet who's an MQ-9 sensor pperator from the Texas Air National Guard's 147th Attack Wing. He recently demonstrated the MQ-9 Reaper to teachers attending the Space Exploration Educators Conference in Houston, TX. Video courtesy of Susan Mallett.

Cadet Alumni Spotlights

How did you meet? Jamie was visiting the squadron where I (Richard) was cadet commander. Thirty years later, the squadron commander runs the National Emergency Services Academy. Jamie was the squadron commander from 2006-2009, and our older son is now cadet commander of that same squadron.

Who was the senior cadet? We met when I was the cadet commander and a college freshman, and Jamie was a high school sophomore and a new cadet. We started dating when Jamie was a college freshman.

Tell us a little bit about each other (school, career, children, interests). We got married in 1999. Since then we've lived in five states; I am an Air Force veteran and a healthcare administrator for the Department of Veterans Affairs; Jamie has helped start a squadron and been a group commander and wing vice commander; and we're both incident commanders. Our five children are amazing: our eldest is studying in Rome with Duke University this spring, and our youngest is in forth grade, and we enjoy all kinds of amazing activities in between.

How long have you been married? Since the Revolution, apparently. Actually 1999, so 23 years.

Words of advice? CAP is important, but family comes first. Not all of your children may want to be cadets. Buy a house big enough for a "regular clothes" and a "uniform clothes" closet. If mommy is doing flight releases, don't bug her.

How did you meet? We met as cadets at the annual Rhode Island Wing encampment in 1976. I (Karen) was the cadet encampment commander, and Bryan was attending encampment for the first time. At one point during the encampment, I found some of the males’ uniform shirts in the female barracks (one of the flight commanders had talked the girls into doing the sewing for the boys). I grabbed the nearest shirt, which happened to be Bryan’s, went out to the flight, and asked the flight commander, “Which one is Cooper?" The flight commander wasted no time pointing him out. I threw the shirt at Bryan, turned to the flight commander and said, “I don’t ever want to find the boys' clothes in the girls barracks again.” That was our first meeting.

Who was the senior cadet? I was the senior cadet, joining CAP almost four years before Bryan did.

Tell us a little bit about each other (school, career, children, interests). Bryan is a high school business teacher and has his mmaster’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in business administration. I recently retired as a systems engineer, where I worked as a civilian for the U.S. Navy. I hold a master’s degree in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and physics. We have one son, Justin.

Besides CAP, I volunteer at my church in the music ministry and at the local zoo (especially enjoy the otters!), with an added interest in genealogy. Bryan’s interests, also besides CAP, include Masons, sports and wildlife photography, and tabletop games.

How long have you been married? We have been married 38 years, as of last September.

Words of advice? Volunteer-by-marriage. This is the term we use when we support each other both in CAP, as well as any of our activities and hobbies outside of CAP. We both have pursued our own interests in CAP, which although they are complementary, they are not identical. Consequently, we have never struggled to determine who was in charge at an event, and it could be either of us, depending on our current duty assignments and interests.  However, we always support each other, which gives us a lot of opportunities to work on things together.

Marry your best friend. Common values and goals make a marriage much easier. When it comes to making a choice, your spouse’s best interest comes first.

Your generosity allows CAP to serve America’s communities. Your kindness is deeply felt, and we want to encourage you to show yourself the same care in 2023.

Through our partnership with FreeWill, you can create your will for free and begin 2023 with an act of care for yourself, your loved ones, and Civil Air Patrol. By prioritizing this act of care, you can start the new year with the peace of mind that all that you love is protected.

Several CAP National Headquarters staff members will exhibit and attend this month’s WAI Conference from Feb. 23-25 in Long Beach, California.  Participants are invited to stop by the CAP booth — No. 536.