Wilson, Blace, Plasschaert Earn 'Cadet Wings'
Civil Air Patrol is doing its part to help young people explore and achieve their career dreams -- especially helping open doors for young women into careers in aviation. 

Five female cadets earned their private pilot certificate through CAP's Cadet Wings program in August, including Cadet 2nd Lt. Rebecca Wilson (above) of the Oklahoma Wing's Broken Arrow Composite Squadron, who became the 55th cadet to receive her certificate on Aug. 28.

Two more female cadets earned their certificates on Labor Day – Cadet Airman Sadie Blace (at right with her flight instructor, Cathy Plasschaert) and Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Taylor Plasschaert (below), both of the Minnesota Wing's Mankato Composite Squadron, who became the 56th and 57th cadets, respectively, to receive their certificates.

Plasschaert is the second member of her family to earn her certificate in Civil Air Patrol. Her mom and dad are also pilots and Mankato squadron members, so she is actually the fourth pilot in the household.

Counting these latest certificates, that's seven young women in a row who have graduated from the Cadet Wings program so far this summer. The other five female cadets receiving their certificates in August were Cadet 2nd Lts. Sarah Skjeveland (No. 51) and Sarah Kadans (No. 52), Cadet Airman Kayla Nowak (No. 53) and Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jacqueline Busch (No. 54). Skjeveland, Nowak and Busch also belong to the Mankato unit.
Flights Helping FEMA Assess Hurricane Damage
The Louisiana Wing is flying damage assessment photo missions over storm-devastated areas in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.

The wing is using new, advanced photo and navigation equipment on three of its planes, allowing aircrews to fly very precise courses and gather thousands of high-resolution images for FEMA’s use. Joining them Sept. 3 was another specially equipped plane from CAP’s Texas Wing. All are flying over designated areas around affected cities and over the coastal areas of Southwest Louisiana.

Other CAP planes have conducted conventional photography flights for Alexandria, producing images that were delivered to the city’s damage analysts.

Four more photography flights were launched Sept. 5 and two on Sept. 6 over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Four involved the use of high-tech photo and navigation systems; the other two used conventional camera equipment.

The wing has also provided flights for observers from other government agencies, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Agriculture.
N.C. Squadron Thrives During Pandemic Lockdown
The North Carolina Wing’s Raleigh-Wake Composite Squadron is one of many CAP units not only surviving but thriving during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Maj. Gen. Mark Smith, national commander, announced March 14 that CAP would halt all in-person meetings because of the coronavirus threat. During the ensuing 4½ months, Raleigh-Wake members have engaged, virtually and otherwise, in emergency services missions, training activities, cadet and senior member meetings, cadet-focused activities and more.

Participation in squadron, group and wing activities has skyrocketed during the lockdown.
This photo taken recently by Maj. Rick Bush of the Florida Wing's Jacksonville Composite Squadron caught our eye. The squadron deputy commander, 1st Lt. J.D. McClure, who submitted it, called it "A True Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow."
NHQ News
What Does it Mean? Series Continues with Part 2
National Headquarters' Marketing & Strategic Communications team is reprising National Commander Maj. Gen. Mark Smith's What Does It Mean? Video Series from 2019 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of CAP's Total Force partnership with the U.S. Air Force.

Last week, you saw the first of this four-part weekly series, “What Does It Mean To Be a Part of the Total Force?” This week's video answers the question, "What Does it Mean To Be a Volunteer Airman?"
Requirement Removed from CP Specialty Track
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cadet Programs is removing encampment-related service requirements from the CP Officer Specialty Track for members who meet certain criteria.

During Director of Cadet Programs webinar discussions this summer, Cadet Programs announced it was unlikely to make such a change, but now with COVID dragging on and Volunteer University having grandfather dates affecting promotions, CP leaders think this change is prudent.
This Week's Top Headlines

“The Air Force's First Female African American Fighter Pilot Is Paving the Way For Women of Color”

“Maxwell's Civil Air Patrol Flies Special Flag on 75th Anniversary of WWII's End”
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