Putnam Cadets Celebrate Well Deserved Achievements

After a challenging few years, due to COVID restrictions, Civil Air Patrol’s (CAP) Putnam County Composite Squadron was finally able to celebrate the accomplishments of their cadets and senior members while acknowledging the impressive achievement of the squadron’s third consecutive award as a Quality Cadet Squadron.

The evening began with an impressive opening by the honor guard that included recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. With a buffet of numerous delicious, donated dishes from member families, the evening began with a feast. A celebratory cake was served, followed by an awards ceremony with brief speeches that filled the joyful evening at the Daniel J. O'Brien VFW Post in Carmel.

The celebration included the acknowledgement of the retirement of Major Ralph Langham for his dedication and support of the squadron since 2016. Langham joined CAP in 2009 and was recognized for his work as a master rated Aerospace Education Officer, where he instructed cadets in topics such as rocketry, robotics, small unmanned aerial systems and remote-controlled airplanes.

With Major Langham’s encouragement of interesting aerospace projects, the cadets were offered the ability to participate in such events as the 2021 Inaugural CAP Aerospace High Altitude Balloon Cadet Challenge in which they were one of three squadrons participating from New York Wing. Participating cadets were given recognition and appreciation certificates, with each one receiving a special challenge coin of the event.

Individual cadet achievements were recognized from the first stages of the CAP Cadet Program all the way to recognition of graduating cadets heading off to begin impressive college careers. In attendance were top ranked CAP officials giving the event the recognition it deserved. Southeast Group Commander, Lt. Col. Larry Mattiello, New York Wing Vice Commander, Lt. Col. Patrick Magee and the New York Wing Director of Aerospace Education, Lt. Col. Anita Martin presented awards with Squadron Commander, Major Elena MacDermant.

After an evening filled with positive support for all members, it was sure to leave a lasting impression of the wonderful contributions the Civil Air Patrol, Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, can give to the lives of everyone involved.

Awards:

• C/Lt. Col. Evan Regan – Eaker Award and High-Altitude Balloon Challenge.
• C/2d Lt. Corinne Taylor – Mitchell Award and High-Altitude Balloon Challenge.
• SMSgt. Erik Hanson – Doolittle Achievement and High-Altitude Balloon Challenge.
• C/SrA Jane Hanson – Wright Brothers Award and High-Altitude Balloon Challenge.
• C/A1C Noah Guedes – Arnold Achievement and High-Altitude Balloon Challenge.
• C/Amn. Sharika Bose – Curry Achievement and High-Altitude Balloon Challenge.
• C/Amn. Jacob Leggiero – CyberPatriot XIV first place in New York State award and High-Altitude Balloon Challenge.
• C/Amn. Ken Lin – Curry Achievement.
• C/Amn. Eric Song – Feik Achievement, CyberPatriot XIV first place in New York State award and High-Altitude Balloon Challenge.
• C/Amn. Michael Strang – Curry Achievement, CyberPatriot XIV first place in New York State award and High-Altitude Balloon Challenge.
• 1st Lt. Theresa De Benedictis – Achievement Award for Outstanding Duty Performance in Finance.
• 2d Lt. Craig Treco – Senior of the Year Award and Achievement Award for Outstanding Duty Performance in Aerospace Education.
• Senior Members Xiaoyan Shao – Level One Certificate of Achievement.
• Allison Sywyk-Hanson – Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award and Level One Certificate of Achievement.
• Stephanie Taylor – Yeager Aerospace Education Achievement Award and Level One Certificate of Achievement.
• Squadron – 2021 Quality Cadet Unit Award and Squadron Aerospace Education Achievement Award.

The Putnam County Composite Squadron welcomes adults and students ages 12-18. To learn more, contact the squadron at (845) 216-5433, email 033@nyw.cap.gov or visit the squadron online at ny033.cap.gov. Weekly meetings are held at the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services building located at 112 Old Route 6 in Carmel, N.Y. on Friday evenings.

Established in 1941, Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine Cessna aircraft and more than 2,100 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and performs about 90% of all search and rescue operations within the contiguous United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Often using innovative cellphone forensics and radar analysis software, CAP was credited by the AFRCC with saving 107 lives in fiscal 2020. CAP’s 56,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. As a nonprofit organization, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace education using national academic standards-based STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. Members also serve as mentors to over 23,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.CAP.News or www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.