Cadet CMSgt Matthew Stamatiou, of Basking Ridge, Honor Cadet

Shown L – R: Major Judith Bascone, Lone Eagle Composite Squadron Commander and C/CMSgt Matthew Stamatiou, Cadet First Sergeant.

Cadet CMSgt Matthew Stamatiou, of the Lone Eagle Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol (CAP), NJ Wing, was presented with his NJ Wing Commander’s Commendation Award for outstanding duty performance during the NJ Wing Basic Encampment at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The award, also known as the Basic Encampment 2017 Honor Cadet Award, was presented for receiving the highest rating out of 110 Basic Cadets on their performance during cadet activities involving flight leadership, physical training with two mile run before breakfast, uniform inspections, obstacle course, etc.

Cadet CMSgt Matthew Stamatiou is the son of Ms. JoAnne Stamatiou and Mr. Albert Albanese of Basking Ridge, NJ. Within the Lone Eagle Composite Squadron, he is serving as the cadet First Sergeant, Aerospace Education Officer, and has served as Flight Sergeant. He is a senior at Ridge High School, Basking Ridge, NJ, where he is enrolled in AP Physics, is an officer within the Technology and Computer Club, and is on the Varsity Fencing Team.

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 .