Cadet 2d Lt. Craig Petrin receives the CAP Billy Mitchell Award

Shown L – R: 2d Lt Michael Petrin, father, siblings, Mrs. Petrin, Col Joe Abegg, NJ Wing Commander, Cadet 2d Lt Craig Petrin, and Major Judith Bascone, Squadron Commander, Lone Eagle Composite Squadron.

Recently, Cadet 2d Lt Craig Petrin, of the Lone Eagle Composite Squadron, was presented with his Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Billy Mitchell Award by Col Joe Abegg, NJ Wing Commander, at the Morristown Armory, Morristown, NJ. He is the son of 2d Lt and Mrs. Michael J. Petrin of Long Valley, NJ.

At Lone Eagle, he has served as the Cadet Deputy Commander, First Sergeant, Flight Sergeant and participated in Memorial Day ceremonies and parades, color guards, and Wreaths Across America. He was also selected as the Honor Cadet Award at the one week NJ Wing CAP Basic Encampment held at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The Honor Cadet Award is presented to those who show outstanding leadership, character, and attention to detail. Also during encampment, Craig performed the duty of the ‘E’ Flight Guidon. He also serves his community with nursing home visits. His other interests include archery, fishing, running, mandolin and piano.

The Billy Mitchell award, the second cadet milestone achievement, is earned after the successful completion of the first eight achievements of the cadet program. In addition to the achievements, the cadet must pass a comprehensive examination on aerospace and leadership and attend Basic Encampment. Only about 15% of all Civil Air Patrol cadets achieve the Billy Mitchell Award.

Billy Mitchell Cadets who enlist in the U.S. Air Force are promoted to E-3 (airman first class) instead of E-1 (airman basic) upon completion of basic military training. Billy Mitchell cadets who enlist in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps are promoted to E-2 instead of E-1 upon completion of basic military training. Likewise, Billy Mitchell cadets who enlist in the US Coast Guard are promoted to E-3 (seaman) instead of E-1 (seaman recruit) upon completion of boot camp.

The Lone Eagle Composite Squadron meets on Wednesday nights at the Morristown National Guard Armory, 430 Western Ave, Morristown, NJ. Youth can start the cadet program at age twelve. For more information about the Lone Eagle Composite Squadron, contact Major Judith Bascone, Commander, at 973-876-2309 or Judith.Bascone@njwg.cap.gov Also, see: www.loneeagle.org.

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 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 80 lives annually. CAP’s 60,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to over 25,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com ,www.CAP.news, or www.njwg.cap.gov for more information.