Stratford Man, 20, Awarded Civil Air Patrol’s Highest Cadet Award

STRATFORD, CT — Cadet Col. Elias M. Bou-Chahine, 20, of Stratford, was recently awarded the prestigious General Carl A. Spaatz Award at the Stratford Eagles Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, located at the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport. The citation was presented by the squadron commander 1st Lt. Robert Talley.

The Spaatz Award is Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet honor. It is presented to cadets who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education. Cadets qualify for the prestigious award after devoting an average of five years to progress through 16 achievements in the CAP Cadet Program. Along the way they “develop self-discipline, a strong sense of personal responsibility, the ability to lead and motivate, and the foundation necessary for pursuing a career in aviation, space, or technology,” according to a news release.

The final step a cadet must complete to earn the Spaatz Award is a rigorous four-part exam consisting of a challenging physical fitness test, an essay exam testing their moral reasoning, a comprehensive written exam on leadership, and a comprehensive written exam on aerospace education. Upon passing the Spaatz Award exams, the cadet is promoted to the grade of Cadet Colonel. Cadet Col. Bou-Chahine said he feels a “huge satisfaction in the completion of the cadet program.”

Bou-Chahine is a 2017 graduate of Brien McMahon High School – Center for Global Studies in Norwalk where he was a member of the Naval Junior Officers Training Corps. He joined the Stratford Eagles Composite Squadron in February of 2011 where his father, 1st Lt. Marcel Bou-Chahine, is also a member. Cadet Col. Bou-Chahine has previously earned three CAP Achievement Awards, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, the Connecticut Wing Commendation Award and the Frank Brewer Memorial Aerospace Award for the Northeast Region.

This past summer, Bou-Chahine was named a Distinguished Graduate at CAP’s Hawk Mountain Ranger School in Kempton, Pa. where he earned his Expert Ranger belt. Bou-Chahine is currently the only cadet in the state with the grade of Expert Ranger.

Bou-Chahine currently attends Norwich University and is expected to commission as a U.S. Army Officer in 2021. This summer he will continue his military training including the United States Army Airborne School.

On average, only five cadets in 1,000 earn the Spaatz Award. Since the awards inception in 1964, Civil Air Patrol has presented the Spaatz Award to only 2,226 cadets nationwide and 40 in the state of Connecticut.