The Eaker Award The General Ira Eaker Award was introduced in 1995 to award completion of the four phases of the Cadet Program. (The Spaatz is outside of the phases.) It became a milestone award in Cadets are promoted to Cadet Lieutenant Colonel. Prior to the Eaker, the recognition for completing all four phases was the addition of a silver triangular clasp on the Earhart ribbon, which was authorized in the early nineties. In addition to phase completion, cadets must attend Cadet Officer School or a regional cadet officer school, and satisfy a speech/writing requirement.

1996 National Flight Encampments return NCC includes Color Guard Competition

1998 New National Activities Hawk Mountain National Ground SAR School

Summary of the Cadet Program that ended in 1998: 15 achievements, 3 “milestone” awards

From “preflight training” to a multitude of activities. Since 1942, the CAP Cadet Program has evolved from a war-time training program, to a multi-faceted volunteer organization. Members can choose from a litany of aviation, military, and emergency services activities. Some of them can become careers. Whatever their focus in CAP, Cadets gain self-confidence, poise, leadership experience, and character. CAP Cadet training is life-training, no matter what course the cadet takes through life.

Why stop at 1998? The current Cadet Program was introduced in While it is another iteration of the 1964 program, the changes were significant enough to set it apart from the previous versions of the Sorenson program. These changes included removal of C/FO, addition of senior NCO grades, NCO insignia changes, addition of milestone awards, and major testing changes. Multiple changes have been implemented since It is also not yet history. It can easily be researched here:

: 52,977 cadets1974: 26,176 cadets 1984: 24,900 cadets 1968

Bibliography Aviation Study Manual. Volume 1 Book II. Washington: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, August Print. Blascovich, Leonard. “The Cadet Program.” February Web. Blascovich, Leonard. “Historical Notes Number 5.” July Blascovich, Leonard. “Historical Notes Number 9.” July Blascovich, Leonard. “Historical Notes Number 10.” July Blascovich, Leonard. “Historical Notes Number 14d”. April Blascovich, Leonard. “Historical Notes Number 18.” November Blascovich, Leonard. “National Drill Competition.” Web. Cadet Handbook. CAPM National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. Cadet Handbook. CAPM Maxwell AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. Cadet Handbook. CAPM Maxwell AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, January Print. Cadet Log Book. Washington: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Web. 20 May Cadet Log Book. Bolling AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Web. 20 May Cadet Summer Activities. Civil Air Patrol. Web. 21 May 2012.

Bibliography Cadet Training Newsletter. Ellington AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, October Web. 21 May The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. CAPR Ellington AFB: Civil Air Patrol, February Print. The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. CAPR 50-6 Change 1. Ellington AFB: Civil Air Patrol, December Print. The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. CAPM Ellington AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, January Web. 25 May The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. CAPM Maxwell AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. CAPM Maxwell AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. CAPM Maxwell AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. CAPM Maxwell AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. CAPM Maxwell AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. Civil Air Patrol Manual. Volume 1 Book I. Washington: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. The Civil Air Patrol Uniform Manual. CAPM Maxwell AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. “Four Point Plan Seeks to Increase Cadet Membership, Participation.” CAP Times. December 1963: Print.

Bibliography Kullowatz, Vernon. Operation Countdown for Character and Citizenship. 2nd ed. Ellington AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. The Leadership Laboratory Manual. CAPM nd ed. Maxwell AFB: National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol, Print. Mehrens, Harold. Aviation Education Texts. 2nd ed. Washington: Civil Air Patrol, Print. Neprud, Robert E. Flying Minute Men: the Story of the Civil Air Patrol. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, Print. “New Cadet Program to Begin July 1.” Civil Air Patrol News. May 1970: 8-9. Print. Perrenot, Preston. Civil Air Patrol Uniform Insignia Since rd ed. Lexington: Print. United States. Headquarters Army Air Force, Office of Flying Safety. Preflight Study Manual. Print. United States. Office of Education. Victory Corps Series. Washington: GPO, Web. 7 June United States. Uniform for the Civil Air Patrol Male Cadet. CAPP 6. Washington: GPO, June Web. 25 May 2012.

Personal Notes

A word about the National Special Activities photos: I have only tried to hit the high points of National Cadet Special Activities, and have not included all of them. I barely scratched the surface of Wing and Region activities. I have also used them to illustrate the changes in American mores since the beginning of the Cadet Program. A good example is the Stewardess Orientation Course. Some of the best pictures in the Annual Reports are of special activities. The photos provide a glimpse into the uniforms and fashions of the past. An exhaustive discussion of National, Wing, and Region activities is worthy of another project. When it comes to dates remember that I have been limited by what I can find on the internet, and by my memory. IACE : The participant countries were, for the most part, the same as in However, they were not listed in the Annual Reports after the early 1980s, so it is difficult to verify the exact countries that participated every year.

If I recall correctly: dusty memory warning Soon after I joined CAP as a cadet in 1988, there was a big flap over color guards carrying parade rifles. The rumor was a Congressman had seen a cadet color guard in the Annual Report carrying rifles, and freaked out. We assumed he got upset over the fake weapons everyone carried, and thought he was making a big deal over nothing. My Wing was serious about it, and we were told sternly “No more rifles for color guard.” After a few years, we were allowed to carry them again. For decades it was standard practice for color guards to march unarmed, or carry dummy rifles, usually nothing that resembled the “real deal”. I think the regs back then allowed “facsimile or deactivated” firearms, but you typically saw the fakes. This photo was in the 1988 ARC. Color guards are conspicuously absent from the Reports , then reappear with parade rifles in I think I just got the whole story… 24 years later. Or maybe it was just my Wing…

About the author: I joined CAP in August COS: 1992 IACE - Australia: 1996 I tried as many cadet activities as I could. I was on 2 Wing drill teams, a million color guards, 8 encampments, earned the GT badge… you get the idea. I was also a Senior Member for 2 years. My father and I, August 1993 Rappeling (or “abseiling”) in Australia, 1996

Recommended Websites History of USAF uniforms: Usafflagranks.com Nationalmuseum.af.mil Lt Col Bobby Thomas’ website: Txsgair.org Maj Ace Browning’s site with Civil Air Patrol patches, insignia, history: incountry.us/cappatches/ CAP Annual Reports: capmembers.com/cap_national_hq/cap_reports/ 1977 CAP recruiting video: archive.org/details/gov.dod.dimoc CAPhistory.org Airandspace.si.edu

To the past, present, and future members of our Armed Forces. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.