Volunteers serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
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Inside This Issue... CAP celebrates Women's History Month, U.S. Air Force National Museum exhibits, 2022 cadet scholarships, alumni spotlight, tax time, Final Salute, more...
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During Women's History Month, Civil Air Patrol is featuring alumni who have done just that — made history. Two have been in the spotlight so far — Lt. Col. Rochelle Kimbrell, the former CAP cadet who recently rejoined the Colorado Wing after a 22-year military career during which she became the Air Force's first Black female fighter pilot, and Cadet Col. Kathryn Christmas, a former CAP cadet who’s regimental commander at The Citadel and preparing for her career as a pilot in the Air Force.
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Meet Air Force Trailblazer Lt. Col. Rochelle Kimbrell
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For retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Rochelle Kimbrell, the road to becoming the military branch’s first Black female fighter pilot can be traced to her days as a Civil Air Patrol cadet in the Colorado Wing’s Parker Composite Squadron.
Nearly 31 years after originally joining CAP on April 1, 1991, at age 14, she’s again part of the organization. Now a member of...
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Meet Citadel Regimental Commander
Cadet Col. Kathryn Christmas
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In May, Cadet Col. Kathryn Christmas will address The Citadel’s Class of 2022 for the final time as its regimental commander — the second female commander in the school’s 179‐year history.
She will have earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and will commission in the U.S. Air Force with a pilot slot reserved. Christmas credits Civil Air Patrol as instrumental in helping her achieve her goals.
“Ever since I was in elementary school, I knew that I wanted to serve my country,” the former South Carolina Wing member said. “In what capacity, I did not know at the time, but after years of mentorship and hard work, I achieved my goal.”
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Vice Commander Highlights
Women of Civil Air Patrol
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CAP's vice commander, Brig. Gen. Regena Aye, talks about the vital role women have played in American history and throughout our organization.
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CAP Aircraft at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
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During World War II, Civil Air Patrol members flying their personal aircraft, such as the J-3, hunted for enemy submarines along the U.S. coasts, reported damaged ships, towed aerial targets, and delivered high-priority orders of vital war materials.
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90 Cadets Awarded $155,700 in Scholarships
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Twenty cadets were recommended for acceptance to the U.S. Air Force Preparatory School in Colorado Springs.
Cadet Programs received 516 scholarship applications. Of the applicants..., 122 had a 3.80 or higher GPA and an SAT score of 1300 and/or an ACT score of 28 or above.
“These scores put our scholarship applicants on academic par with U.S. Air Force Academy entering freshman,” said Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, CAP national commander.
In addition, 108 of the flight scholarship applicants indicated they have piloting experience equivalent to the CAP pre-solo badge or more.
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Want to Support Cadet Scholarships?
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CAP's search and rescue missions continue. This map represents the number of saves since Oct. 1.
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Alumni & Friends Spotlight
Ms. Dannie Lynn Fountain
Cadet Alumna
Michigan Wing
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Fountain at National Flight Academy
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Fountain with Col. Mary Feik
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Why did you join Civil Air Patrol?
I joined CAP originally as I heard about it through Venture Scouts (a subset of the Boy Scouts) and was excited by the aviation opportunities. Once I went to my first meeting, I was hooked on the camaraderie, passion for leadership and heritage, and opportunities to get involved in a number of significant aviation and military events each year. I was a member of a couple different squadrons within the Michigan Wing- and served as cadet commander for MI-202 for a time. My time in CAP quite literally took me across the globe, and I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunities and experiences I had.
What is your career?
As with most individuals today, my current career is quite multi-passionate. By day, I am a senior software engineering sourcer at Google, responsible for identifying and engaging established software engineers for leadership roles within the organization. Beyond Google, I am an author (my fifth book comes out this fall), a doctoral student (set to graduate this spring), and serve as a seasonal tax manager at Intuit TurboTax, leading a team of 35 tax experts as they support TurboTax customers.
Prior to my current role at Google, I had a decade-long career in sales and marketing, first at Whirlpool Corp., then as an entrepreneur, and finally at Google, where I worked in various parts of the Google Ads organization.
What specific lesson/experience from CAP has influenced your career or your life?
CAP teaches cadets to advocate for themselves, to identify opportunities and go after them, and to build their own unique experience within the organization. For me, this meant taking advantage of every opportunity I could -- from being awarded the Mary Von Mach scholarship and attending National Flight Academy to participating in conversations on Capitol Hill and the CIA through Civic Leadership Academy, attending the Michigan Wing's search and rescue academy and countless encampments, or, most interestingly, participating in the Great Lake Region Cadet Competition just a few short months after joining CAP. My CAP career made my teen and young adult years some of the most exciting of my life, with the fondest memories, thanks to that sense of initiative that CAP instilled.
This lesson continues to serve me well today--I seek out and take on opportunities that have opened countless doors for me in my personal and professional life. That "self-starter" initiative led to my role at Google, the book deal for my forthcoming book, countless travel adventures, and even meeting my wife, whom I married in November 2021. I don't think there's a CAP alumnus out there with a boring life!
What else should we know about you?
Some of my friends from CAP remain lifelong friends today, which speaks to the power of camaraderie within the organization. Cadets I met at encampment are friends who gather when one or the other is in town, and cadets from the squadrons I was a member of remain close confidants. Perhaps my personal favorite is a cadet I met because of an National Cadet Special Activity who shares the same birthday, down to the year, despite us having one of the least common birthdays! Ever since this discovery, we've remained in touch and even affectionately refer to one another as "twins," all thanks to the friendship that CAP gave us.
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Let Your Taxes Work in Your Favor
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Many supporters have expressed an interest in learning about other ways they can help save lives and shape futures with CAP.
Because it’s tax season, and we’re all thinking about our finances a little more this month, we are excited to note that you can make an impact by donating stock and through your IRA.
In many cases, if you are 70.5 or older, giving directly from your IRA makes this gift 100% tax free, and meets your Required Minimum Distribution (72 or older) for 2022. And, if you have appreciated assets, you can avoid the capital gains tax by donating your stock directly to CAP.
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Remembering Those Who Have Passed
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CAP offers friends and family the ability to make gifts in memory or honor of someone special. Tribute/memorial gifts made through the link below are listed in each issue of Civil Air Patrol Volunteer.
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Legendary World War II CAP Member Flies West
Just Short of 100th Birthday
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Deanie Bishop Parrish, Women’s Airforce Service Pilots class of 44-W-4 passed away in her home in Waco, Texas, on Feb. 24, the day before her 100th birthday.
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Parish poses with a Republic P-47N, Fall 1944. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
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Parrish receives the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of all 1,102 Women's Airforce Service pilots at the Capitol Visitors Center, March 10, 2010. [Courtesy: U.S. Department of Defense]
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Civil Air Patrol - Development
Kristina E. Jones, M.A., CFRE, Chief of Philanthropy
Col. John M. Knowles, Deputy Chief of Alumni Relations
Donna Bass Maraman, Development Manager
Rebecca Armstrong, Donor Database Specialist
(334) 953-9003 Direct
(833) IAM-4CAP Toll Free
Interested in talking about the legacy you want to leave?
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