Alexandria Civil Air Patrol cadets recognized for achievement

On May 22, 2019, Challenger 1 Cadet Squadron, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) recognized two of its own for outstanding achievement in the Cadet Program.

Cadet First Lieutenant Haseeb Khan, 17, completed the Amelia Earhart achievement of the CAP Cadet Program and was promoted to the rank of Cadet Captain. Khan joined the squadron in February 2016, graduated from Tri-Wing Encampment in July 2016, and currently serves as both the Challenger 1 Squadron Cadet Commander and National Capital Wing Cadet Public Affairs Officer.

Cadet Major Faizan Khurshid, 17, completed the the Gen Ira C Eaker achievement of the CAP Cadet Program and was promoted to the rank of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel. Khurshid joined the squadron in December 2014, graduated from Tri-Wing Encampment in 2015, and Region Cadet Leadership Academy in 2016. He currently serves as the Challenger 1 Squadron Cadet Competition Team Commander, National Capital Wing Cadet Safety Officer, and previously served as the Challenger 1 Squadron Cadet Commander in 2018.

First Lieutenant Justin Strait, Challenger 1 Squadron Commander, Colonel Janon D. Ellis, National Capital Wing Commander, and Chief Master Sergeant Freddie Perry, National Capital Wing Command Chief promoted the cadets and presented them with their awards.

The Amelia Earhart Award honors an aviatrix, writer, and champion for civil rights who set many records in aviation’s infancy before her famous disappearance during her attempt to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. Adored by the public, Earhart spoke and wrote about the romance of aviation. “The stars seemed near enough to touch and never before have I seen so many,” she wrote of one record setting flight. “I always believed the lure of flying is the lure of beauty, but I was sure of it that night.”

The Earhart Award marks completion of Phase III of the CAP Cadet Program, recognizing sustained excellence in all four areas of cadet life: leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character. Further, Earhart Award cadets must have passed comprehensive examinations on leadership and aerospace topics.

The General Ira C. Eaker Award is the CAP Cadet Program’s second most prestigious award and honors one of the forefathers of an independent Air Force. With General (then major) Carl Spaatz, in 1929 Eaker remained aloft aboard The Question Mark, a modified Atlantic-Fokker C-2A, for nearly a week, to demonstrate a newfound capability of aerial refueling. During WWII, Eaker rose to the grade of lieutenant general and commanded the Eighth Air Force, "The Mighty Eighth" force of strategic bombers. Even as a general, Eaker preferred to lead from the front, personally flying B-17 precision bombing missions over occupied France and Germany.

The Eaker Award marks completion of Phase IV of the CAP Cadet Program, recognizing sustained excellence in all four areas of cadet life: leadership, aerospace, fitness, and character. Further, cadets will have graduated from an academically-intensive leadership academy to qualify for this honor, which is especially appropriate considering that today, the Air Force celebrates Gen Eaker’s legacy by naming the service's top school for commanders in his honor – the Ira C. Eaker Center for Professional Development at Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. To stand in General Eaker’s shadow is to study leadership carefully and serve others.

Challenger 1 Cadet Squadron serves the City of Alexandria and conducts aerospace education programs, ground and airborne emergency services support, and leadership and character development programs for young people and is currently recruiting new cadet members from 12-18, and adults from 18 years of age, no experience required. The squadron meets every Wednesday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Nannie J Lee Recreation Center located at 1108 Jefferson St, Alexandria, VA 22314. For more information visit dc060.natcapwing.org. You can also follow the squadron on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DC060 or follow @CAP_DC060 on Instagram.

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 63,000 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 26,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.