Caldwells Teen Graduates From Civil Air Patrol Basic Encampment

Six teens – including residents of North Caldwell and West Orange - graduated from Civil Air Patrol Basic Encampment this summer.

The cadets – members of the Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron - participated in the New Jersey Wing Basic Encampment at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, graduating on Aug. 7. Graduates included Charles Marashlian (North Caldwell), Dat Phan (Boonton), Jordan Stokes (Glen Ridge), Leonardo Trujillo (West Orange) and David Vo (Haledon).

A sixth cadet, Ilayda Vural (West Orange), participated at the Colorado Wing Basic Encampment at the US Air Force Academy Prep School, and graduated on June 13.

According to a release, at the encampment, cadets participate in aerospace activities, fly in CAP and military airplanes, learn military customs and courtesies and develop leadership and teamwork skills.

Successful Basic Encampment graduation allows cadets to participate in future specialty encampments, ranging from Glider and Powered Flight school to CyberSecurity and Search and Rescue academies.

The Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron meets weekly in Fairfield. The Squadron runs cadet programs for youth ages 12 to 18, focused on aerospace education, fitness, and character and leadership development.

For more information about the squadron, email stanley.rogacki@njwg.cap.gov.

Photo courtesy of Alisa Vural

Pictured above: Cadets Phan, Morales, Marashlian, Stokes, Vo, Trujillo and Vural

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