New Pilot: Cadet Wings Success Means '400 Dreams That Have Come True'

Cadet Lt. Col. Eleanore Katz of the Washington Wing’s Seattle Composite Squadron achieved the latest milestone in Civil Air Patrol’s Cadet Wings program when she became the 400th youth to qualify as a Civil Air Patrol pilot following her check ride June 24 from Auburn Municipal Airport.

Cadet Wings was created in 2019 with funding from the U.S. Air Force to increase the nation’s pilot population. More recently, donations by the James. C. Ray Foundation have added extra training slots that include a CAP mentor, or navigator, for the aspiring pilot.

Katz’s flight training was funded through a scholarship provided by the foundation.

“It truly feels amazing to be one of CAP's newest pilots,” she said. “It's a big accomplishment, and it's been interesting looking back at all the work I've put in, from my first orientation flight in 2021 to attending the Southwest Region Powered Flight Academy in 2024 to finally getting to be a private pilot.”

New Application Season for Cadet Wings Opens Today

The Cadet Wings application season for fiscal 2026 opens today and closes Sept. 1 at noon Central Time. All cadets meeting the ideal candidate requirements are urged to apply for the program as soon as possible, as it is first-come, first-served.

The Youth Aviation Panel will begin their review on July 15, and those prospective candidates will be notified shortly after to begin working toward the enrollment process and begin flying early October.

Minnesota Team Repeats Win at North Central Region Cadet Competition

The Minnesota Wing’s Duluth Composite Squadron cadet team placed first for the second straight year at the North Central Region Cadet Competition, followed by the Missouri Wing’s Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron and the Iowa Wing’s Black Hawk Composite Squadron.

Competing in Salina, Kansas, the Duluth cadets took four of the seven team categories — Standard/Element Drill, Physical Fitness Test, Aero Build, and Team Leadership Problem — and placed second in Indoor Posting, Uniform Inspection, Impromptu Speech, Kahoot, and Service Project.

The team consisted of:

• Cadet Second Lts. George Frederickson, Sophia Thomas, and Ryan Thompson
• Chief Master Sgts. Isaac Carlson, Sarah Rose, and Nicholas Winter

Robotics Course Marks 10th Anniversary

From medicine to the military, manufacturing to music, robotics is changing the way the world works.

For a decade now, Civil Air Patrol, through its Engineering Technology (Robotics) Academy, or simply E-TECH (Robotics), has opened the door for cadets to explore this exploding field of technology.

The robotics program is making its mark, said Mary Albright, CAP’s program manager for cadet career exploration camps. So far nearly 300 cadets have completed the weeklong robotics course, now hosted by the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado Springs.

The most recent course was conducted at the academy June 12-20, with 31 cadets from 19 wings participating. It’s one of about 50 National Cadet Special Activities that CAP offers.

Maryland Cadet Gains Spaatz Award

Cadet Col. Cory Matejovich of the Maryland Wing’s Granite Cadet Squadron has achieved the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award, Civil Air Patrol’s top cadet accomplishment.

Matejovich received the award from Col. Brenda Reed, Maryland Wing commander, who headed the Granite squadron — featuring the wing’s second-largest cadet corps — while he was cadet commander.

“Cory has an impressive resume in and out of Civil Air Patrol,” Reed said, “but even more impressive is his character; he is a young man who truly lives the Civil Air Patrol core values.”

Texas Squadron Expanding Airport Facility for Incident Command, Cadet Training

The Texas Wing's South Fort Worth Diamondback Squadron is transforming its airport home into a fully operational incident command post and immersive learning environment for cadets, aiming to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure to support mission operations while enhancing aerospace education and leadership training for youth.

“This facility will serve a dual purpose: it’s where the members can coordinate real-time and practice emergency responses and where cadets can gain the hands-on experience they need to become tomorrow’s leaders,” said Capt. Michael McDade, who commanded the squadron — based at Fort Worth Spinks Airport — when the project began and for most of its progression.

Next Hawaii Wing Commander Named

Lt. Col. Dana McLaughlin has been named the next Hawaii Wing commander, marking a new phase in a Civil Air Patrol journey that began more than 30 years when she was a cadet.

McLaughlin is a licensed pilot and a retired paramedic with an extensive background in search and rescue. Her previous experience includes wilderness tracking, avalanche response, rope rescue, K9 search specialist, team paramedic, and disaster response across a half-dozen agencies. She has participated in hundreds of search and rescue missions and has served as a forensic expert witness in several homicide trials.

As a 16-year-old cadet, she supported radio operations while assisting in the recovery of a downed CAP flight crew.

Mid-Year 'Ownership' Review Set for July 2

Join your Civil Air Patrol colleagues on July 2 from 8-9 p.m. ET for the "CAP Year of Ownership Mid-Year Review."

The session will be the latest installment in a series of sessions about Extreme Ownership, started by Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye, national commander/CEO, in January. Learn more about previous Year of Ownership sessions at this link. Just scroll down and enroll for the July 2 session.

NHQ News

Annual Report Touts CAP Support, Impact

The past fiscal year was a year of growth as represented in Civil Air Patrol's 2024 Annual Report. The publication is now available online, providing you with an opportunity to see the impact of your support in America's communities.

"In our roles at Civil Air Patrol, we've had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible impact of your support. Your involvement has been pivotal in expanding our reach and influence — from 117% growth of our Semper Vigilans Society recognition program to the establishment of 32 endowments within the Civil Air Patrol Foundation," said Maj. Regena M. Aye, CAP's national commander/CEO, and Kristina Jones, CAP's chief growth officer, in a joint letter to those supporters.

Several donor features are also included in this year's report. Among the inspiring stories featured is that of a U.S. Air Force and CAP instructor pilot who passed in 2024 but whose legacy lives on through the Capt. John Allan Robertson Memorial Endowment.

Take the General Terms and Syntax Brand Quiz

This month's Brand Quiz examines some general Civil Air Patrol terms and syntax.

You will find the answers to these questions in the Brand Portal Style & Terms Guide under General Terms, Abbreviations, and Syntax.

Similar to the CAP-specific terms, some guidelines on the Brand Portal deviate from standard practice, Tongue & Quill, or Associated Press style. Generally, this is either a purposeful change to improve brand recognition or consistency or is due to a request from one of our partners, such as the U.S. Air Force.

Take the 2025 July Brand Quiz to test your knowledge on these common CAP terms and proper syntax.

Field Fundraising Resources Available in eServices

The Development team announces field fundraising resources are now accessible through e-Services and online. These tools are designed to support your fundraising efforts with updated guidance, templates, and best practices.

Log in today and choose "Field Fundraising" from the drop-down menu to explore the latest materials and elevate your campaign success.

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For more information, go to Operation Pulse Lift's webpage on GoCivilAirPatrol.com. There you will find the latest Blood Donation Center schedules, instructions on how to set up a BDC, and other mission information.