Carroll Cadets train for CyberPatriot competition

February 2015, WESTMINSTER, Md. The world online and the cyber communication network continues to change rapidly with advancing technology. Cyber communication, technology and the virtual world have become significant pathways in our lives. To meet the challenge of understanding more about the world of cyber space and technology, the newly formed Civil Air Patrol Carroll Composite Squadron CyberPatriot team has been established. Members will train and prepare for participation in the 2015-16 CyberPatriot national competition. Additionally, the squadron team will continue beyond the competition with a goal to better understand the cyber world and its complexities.

The Carroll CyberPatriot team is committed to achieving an understanding of cyber programs, solving technical problems and participating in the national competition. In a recent practice round, the team spent several hours working on cyber programs, cryptography exercises, decoding, networking and solving complex technical challenges. The newly formed Carroll squadron Cyber-Team is comprised of senior member and team captain First Lieutenant Raoul “Randy” Budge and cadets, Senior Master Sergeant Calab Scanlan, Technical Sergeants Jerimiah Cox and Jonah Scanlan, Staff Sergeant Austin Cole and Senior Airman Nicholas Wilhide. Senior members Eric Scanlan and Donald Cox are working with the cadet team and expanding their knowledge of the cyber world of technology. Regardless of the competition outcome, the Carroll Cyber-Team expressed its appreciation for the opportunity to expand their knowledge of cyber space, security and technical applications. Team participants extended special appreciation to senior member Carol Scanlan who designed Carroll CyberPatriot t-shirts for each team member.

What is CyberPatriot? It is the premier national youth cyber education program created to inspire high school and middle school students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation’s future. The program was created by the Air Force Association. The Northrop Grumman Foundation is the presenting sponsor.

The CyberPatriot program began in 2009 with a proof of concept competition among six high school Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) teams and one Civil Air Patrol team. Since then, the program has experienced per annum growth of more than 20 percent. The CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Defense Competition is now open to public, private, and charter high schools, middle schools, home schools, and numerous youth programs and clubs. For more information about the CyberPatriot competition and program visit www.uscyberpatriot.org/ .

The Carroll Composite Squadron meets 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evenings at the Hilltop Assembly of God Church Hall at 30 North Cranberry Road in Westminster, Md. Prospective cadets, ages 12-18, and their parents are always welcome. Adults seeking mentoring opportunities are invited as well. For more information, email carrollcomposite@yahoo.com or visit www.carrollcap.org. You can also follow the squadron on Facebook at www.facebook.com/capcarrollcomposite.

Nearly 1,600 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year 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.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 58,000 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 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. Performing missions for America for the past 73 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 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.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

Pictured: Cadet/Senior Airman Nick Wilhide, Cadet/Technical Sergeant Jonah Scanlan, Cadet/Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Cox, Cadet/ Chief Master Sergeant Caleb Scanlan, Cadet/Staff Sergeant Austin Coale, Cadet Daniel Molloy(standing), and Cadet Daniel Schipper(sitting far right.)

Article by: Alice Raatjes, 1stLt, Public Affairs Officer, Carroll Composite Squadron, Group II, Maryland Wing, Civil Air Patrol