What makes a Leader? My experience as a Civil Air Patrol Cadet.

February 2015. Westminster, Md. What makes a perfect leader? I believe that “A leader must be open to constantly learning and embracing change. Every day, every opportunity presents a leader with new ideas and affects their outlook on leadership.”

I am the Cadet/Deputy Commander for Cadets and a Cadet Captain in Civil Air Patrol Carroll Composite Squadron. I joined in the Carroll Composite squadron located in Westminster, Maryland, in March 2012 and I will continue as a cadet through July 12, 2016, when I will be 21. The CAP cadet program is for youth between the ages of 12 and 21. At age 21, the cadet has the opportunity to become a senior member and continue with their CAP professional development.

When I first joined CAP, I knew absolutely nothing about aerospace, the organization and I questioned my own ability to become a good cadet and leader. I was taught that in order to succeed or “rise in the ranks” and climb the ladder of success, I must start at the bottom like anyone else and through hard work and diligent efforts I will reach my goal.

As a new cadet, I was assigned with other new cadets to a particular group, or ‘flight’ as CAP calls it, to lean the basic programs. These included the CAP three missions (aerospace education, emergency services and cadet programs), basic drill, customs and courtesies and foundational values that help cadets to understand and succeed as they progress through the cadet program. This introduction to CAP and its background brought us together as a team. We trained as a team and we learned as team that working together we can achieve individual excellence.

Two months after I became a cadet airman in May 2012, I volunteered for our squadron color guard team. The constant practice and commitment to the team became my focus in the squadron throughout the following year. As the rear rifleman, I was a member of a closely knit team of five cadets. Practicing many hours, the Carroll team progressed from being a group of beginners to a prestigious marching guard proudly representing Carroll squadron and carrying our nation’s flag. The Carroll team’s persistence resulted in achieving a first place award in the CAP Maryland Wing’s competition. Additionally, the team achieved top honors and first place at the Middle East Region competition. The Carroll team then represented both the Wing and Region at the national competition. Although we did not win first place, we ranked fifth in the entire nation. Carroll did not go home empty-handed as members won two first place trophies for individual events and our color guard commander won an individual trophy for achieving the highest score on the leadership test.

The experience, as part of the Carroll color guard, taught me many things. My team and I had to intently study the CAP leadership curriculum. To become a better leader, I had to learn leadership principles. Also we studied the details of CAP aerospace program. This included the fundamentals of space, air, rocket technology, the background and progression of flight and the history of the men and women who were the pioneers and experts who contributed to the current aerospace program. All that I learned help lay the ground work to better my understanding of CAP and improve my leadership ability.

What has been the high points of my CAP experiences? There are many; however, learning and teaching are my best practices. Being part of the Carroll color guard, I met many cadets from around the country, teenagers like myself from Florida, California, Delaware, and many other states. This experience jump-started my “cadet career” by teaching core values that prepared me to lead other cadets.

My participation as a cadet staff flight commander at the 2014 Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania Tri-Wing Encampment gave me the opportunity to use and improve leadership skills. This summer encampment, or military style camp, provides cadets’ opportunities in learning leadership skills, team work, character building and encouraged mentoring while competing in various events.

CAP offers many summer activities to cadets. One of these is the National Blue Beret event. Meeting the appropriate qualification, I had the opportunity to attend this program. Held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with over a hundred other cadets, the event provided me with many chances to learn, to collaborate and to serve the community of Wisconsin by serving at their annual experimental aircraft show. This experience promoted CAP’s core value of community service, as well as fulfilled the mission of supporting the activity with emergency services. By the end of this National Special Cadet Activity, I had become a part of another family who proudly wears the “Blue Beret.”

Andre Malrux, French novelist, said, “To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less” I have now achieved the rank of cadet captain and currently serve as the squadron cadet deputy commander. This position is humbling as I help the cadet commander pursue and fulfill the broad goals he has set for our squadron as well as teach, mentor and instruct the next generation of leaders for the Carroll squadron. I have the chance to influence and teach the upcoming generations of cadets that will one day oversee the Carroll composite cadet squadron. Observing the cadets learn and grow into leaders is inspiring. I continue to learn from those I mentor and lead as they bring new ideas and experiences to each situation.

A true leader will tell you is that it is never about “Me” It is always about the team. The position of cadet deputy commander carries a weight of authority; however, it has nothing to do with using that power to serve yourself. It’s quite the opposite, as the power is there to be used to serve others, to serve the team, to serve the squadron and ultimately to serve all the cadets who are the squadron.

Jack Welch, former Chairman of General Electric stated, “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” I have had the privilege of being part of the Civil Air Patrol and I hope that the next generations of leaders within our squadron will understand the importance of ‘growing’ as they progress into leadership positions within the Carroll composite squadron.

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.

Nearly 1,500 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.

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.

Article by: C/Capt Aaron Scanland, C/Deputy Commander of Cadets and 1stLt Alice Raatjes Carroll Composite Public Affairs Officer.