Local Civil Air Patrol Cadet Graduates from Honor Guard Academy

July 24, 2019

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD— Cadet First Lieutenant Caleb Eyler, of Harford Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, graduated recently from Mid-Atlantic Region Honor Guard Academy, held on Joint Base Langley-Eustis, in Langley, Va.

Cadet 1st Lt. Caleb Eyler was trained in this Non-Commissioned Officer-led Academy by members of the United States Air Force Honor Guard. He learned the proper way to carry the American flag in parades and during ceremonies, also known as “presenting the colors.” He learned how to place a ceremonial wreath, as many Civil Air Patrol units have the opportunity to do during the Wreaths Across America observances each December. He was also trained in the proper techniques for folding the American flag in a 2-man or 6-man group. Knowing and understanding these techniques is key as Civil Air Patrol cadets are called upon by local and National cemeteries to assist in some components of a funeral with military honors.

Although it was Cadet 1st Lt. Caleb Eyler’s first time attending the Mid-Atlantic Region Honor Guard Academy, the Academy itself is over 15 years old. However, this year marked the first time that it was held at Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE), and the first year that Non-Commissioned Officers—members of Civil Air Patrol’s NCO Corps—were responsible for reinforcing the training and procedures which the members of the JBLE Honor Guard demonstrated during the morning training hours.

In addition to the extensive ceremonial guardsman training that Cadet 1st Lt. Caleb Eyler received during the week, he also had the opportunity to connect with cadets from 30 Wings (states) plus the National-Capitol Wing and the Puerto Rico Wing. This nation-wide representation alone speaks volumes about the type of experiences this Academy is known to produce, but it also demonstrates the willingness of cadets to give a week of their summer to develop their skills in leadership. Cadets experienced a cookout, practiced change of command ceremonies, witnessed F-22s flying overhead frequently, and participated in a full-scale graduation on 20 July, 2019, where they were awarded a numbered Mid-Atlantic Region Honor Guard Academy coin and corresponding certificate, in addition to their silver Honor Cord.

Cadet 1st Lt. Caleb Eyler said about his experience, “The Honor Guard academy was a great experience. Wearing the ceremonial uniform and enduring the heat taught me to embrace the challenge of being an honor guardsman and live the honor guard creed; “Neither the type of ceremony, severity of temperature, nor size of the audience will ever dictate the level of quality of my performance” It was a rewarding week and I look forward to serving cap as an honor guardsman.” Cadet 1st Lt. Caleb Eyler looks forward to using the skills he learned at the Mid-Atlantic Region Honor Guard Academy to train other cadets in the Harford Composite Squadron and in the Maryland Wing.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. CAP’s 60,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to over 25,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.

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CAP Contact Information:
Chief Master Sergeant Todd Parsons, CAP
tparsons@cap.gov
571-439-0693

1st Lt Rachael J. Mercer, CAP
rachael.mercer@scwgcap.org
912-777-9394