North Caldwell Youth, West Point Student Earns CAP’s Highest Honor

NORTH CALDWELL, NJ — In what is now a bona-fide family-tradition, a North Caldwell youth recently earned the Carl A. Spaatz Award, the highest achievement that a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadet can earn.

CAP Cadet Colonel John Rogacki joined two of his siblings - all members of the Civil Air Patrol Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron – as recipients of the award during a ceremony last month.

According to a CAP news release, Rogacki completed all sixteen cadet achievements and four milestone awards in six years as a Civil Air Patrol cadet. Each accomplishment requires “rigorous study of leadership, character, aerospace and physical fitness.”

Rogacki earned the 2049th Spaatz Award since its inception in 1964. Less than half of one percent of all Civil Air Patrol cadets earn this award.

The North Caldwell resident is currently in his first year at the United States Military Academy at West Point, CAP officials said.

Rogacki’s older brother, U. S. Army First Lieutenant Stephen Rogacki, is serving as a Cyber Warfare Officer and is a graduate of U.S. Army Ranger school. He earned his Spaatz Award in 2009.

Rogacki’s older sister, U. S. Army First Lieutenant Stasia Rogacki, is currently an Executive Officer for an Airborne Forward Surgical Team and is a West Point graduate. She has completed Airborne School, Jumpmaster School and the Expert Field Medical Badge, and earned her Spaatz Award in August 2009.

The Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings at the American Red Cross in Fairfield. Prospective cadets, ages 12-18, and their parents are welcome. For more information visit http://curtiss-wright.njwg.cap...

Photo courtesy of Curtiss-Wright Composite Squadron / Alisa Vural

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