Cadet 2nd Lt Robert Boden, of Mendham Township, receives the CAP

Shown L – R: Major Judith Bascone, Lone Eagle Composite Squadron Commander, Cadet 2nd Lt Robert Boden, and Lt Col Stan Rogacki, Group 221 Commander, NJ Wing.

On Nov 29th, Cadet 2nd Lt Robert G. Boden, Cadet Deputy Commander for Operations, of the Lone Eagle Composite Squadron, was presented with his Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Billy Mitchell Award by Lt Col Stan Rogacki, Group 221 Commander, NJ Wing, at the Scout Cabin, Borough of Peapack-Gladstone, NJ.

Cadet 2nd Lt Robert Boden, the son of Mr. Brian Boden and Ms. Judith Kern, Mendham Township, NJ, is a senior at West Morris Mendham High School and is active in varsity football. He attended CAP Hawk Mountain Ranger School where he earned Ranger 2nd and 3rd Class qualifications and was selected as the honor cadet within his flight. He has served as First Sergeant and as Flight Sergeant at the Lone Eagle Composite Squadron and at the NJ Wing Basic Encampment respectively. He has also participated in color guards at Memorial Day parades and ceremonies, and during Wreaths Across America dedications which promotes a program to REMEMBER, HONOR, and TEACH about the sacrifices of our veterans. To support the Lone Eagle Composite Squadron through this program, go to: https://donate.wreathsacrossamerica.org/?pageId=19255&relatedIds=0

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 Scout Cabin, Borough of Peapack-Gladstone, 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 57,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief, and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.

CAP also plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to 24,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information. At the NJ State, Group, and Squadron level, visit respectively: www.njwg.cap.gov , www.group221.njwg.cap.gov , and www.loneeagle.org .