Towson Cadet Appointed to U.S. Coast Guard Academy

By 2nd Lt. Brian Green, CAP

Public Affairs Officer, Towson Composite Squadron

9/28/2014 - TOWSON, MD

Civil Air Patrol Cadet 1st Lieutenant John-Paul Y. Yalov has accepted an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy Class of 2018.  Yalov is a cadet at Maryland Wing’s Towson Composite Squadron.

Yalov, a former cadet commander and cadet flight commander, joined Civil Air Patrol at age 12.  The idea came when Yalov’s mother heard that CAP offered its cadets the opportunity to fly airplanes.  A homeschool student, Yalov looked for extra-curricular activities.  “As a homeschooler, I used CAP to get the experience of a varsity sports team,” stated Yalov.

When asked what Civil Air Patrol offers teens, Yalov stated, “CAP offers hands-on leadership training and experience with life skills and practice that are hard to find in other places.  You get to practice problem-solving, stress management, critical thinking, teamwork, discipline and to enjoy great camaraderie.” 

Yalov took full advantage of the opportunities offered to him by CAP, including attending the National Emergency Services Academy, held at Camp Atterbury, Ind., the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineering Academy, held at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., the National Blue Beret, held in conjunction with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual fly-in at Oskosh, Wis., the Maryland-Delaware Encampment, as well as the 2010 Middle East Region Cadet Leadership School and a Squadron Operations & Administration Retreat, both held at Camp Fretterd, Md.  He became an emergency service level 1 ground team member, urban direction finding team member, flight line marshaller, and was awarded CAP’s General “Billy” Mitchell award.

Yalov studied at the Community College of Baltimore County, where he completed 20 credits.  He was a member of his Arch Diocese Youth Advisory Council and awarded the Eagle of the Cross for his leadership.  A parishioner of St. Borromeo of Pikesville, Md., Yalov is the son of Edward C. Yalov and Martha B. Yalov.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 60,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft.  CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs about 85 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 70 lives annually.  Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.  The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 25,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs.  Performing missions for America for over 70 years, CAP will receive the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans.  CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans.  Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com, www.capvolunteernow.com and www.capgoldmedal.com for more information.

Nearly 1,600 CAP members serve in Maryland.  Last year Maryland Wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions.  The wing was credited with five finds and one life saved.  Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland.  Members flew 2,106 hours in all mission categories.  Volunteers contributed services estimated at 4.6 million dollars.  For more information, contact the Maryland Wing at www.mdcap.org or follow the wing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandWingCivilAirPatrol.

For more information, please visit the Towson Composite Squadron, which meets every Wednesday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the MG Harry C. Ruhl Armory, 1035 York Road, Towson, Md. 21204 or email sherry.a.mcmanus@mdcap.org.

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