Civil Air Patrol Squadron Earns Multiple Achievements

by Capt Brandon Lunsford and Lt Col Scott McCarty, CAP

BROKEN ARROW, Okla ­(April 14, 2022) – Civil Air Patrol’s Broken Arrow Composite Squadron recognized several members at an awards ceremony held at the Broken Arrow Army National Guard Armory, located at 2401 S 9th Street.

Cadets Second Lt. Grayson Robinson and Allain Tupas became the squadron’s newest cadet officers upon receiving the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award at the ceremony.

(Left) Broken Arrow Police Chief Brandon Berryhill presenting Cadet Second Lt. Allain Tupas with the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award, accompanied by squadron commander Lt. Col. Scott McCarty. 
(Source: Technical Sgt. Edwin Royer, CAP)

(Right) Broken Arrow Police Chief Brandon Berryhill presenting Cadet Second Lt. Grayson Robinson with the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award. 
(Source: Technical Sgt. Edwin Royer, CAP)

The Gen. Billy Mitchell Award has existed since 1964. This award honors the late Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, an aviation pioneer, advocate, and staunch supporter of an independent Air Force for America. The award is earned after completing the first eight achievements of the cadet program. In addition, the cadet must pass a 100-question examination testing leadership theory and aerospace topics. Only 15% of CAP cadets reach this level of the program.

Being such an important milestone in the cadet program, the Mitchell Award is normally presented by a high-level CAP officer, or a local, state or federal government official. Once the cadet earns the Mitchell Award, they are promoted to the grade of cadet second lieutenant.

Broken Arrow Chief of Police Brandon Berryhill, on behalf of Mayor Debra Wimpee, presented the awards. Both cadets have expressed an interest in military law enforcement.

"Civil Air Patrol has helped me through my life and continues to shape me for who I want to be,” Tupas said. “I see the promotion to cadet officer as a step forward in my goal for a military career and a positive step forward in my life."

The cadets were also honored with awards by the Broken Arrow Creek Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Janet Davis of the chapter presented Robinson with the Silver Outstanding Cadet Award and Tupas with the Youth Citizenship Medal.

(Left) Cadet Second Lt. Grayson Robinson receiving the Silver Outstanding Cadet Award from Mrs. Janet Davis of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. 
(Source: Technical Sgt. Edwin Royer, CAP)

(Right) Cadet Second Lt. Allain Tupas receiving the Youth Citizenship Medal from Mrs. Janet Davis of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. 
(Source: Technical Sgt. Edwin Royer, CAP)

Other awards presented that evening included the Air Force Sergeant’s Association Squadron NCO of the Year award, presented to Tupas by Capt. Keith Davis, the squadron’s deputy commander for cadets.

Civil Air Patrol offers a very popular program free to its members that involves doing hands-on aviation and space-related activities with cadets, students and adult members. It is called Aerospace Education Excellence. The AEX award program participants have access to a variety of books and other aerospace-related STEM lessons and activities, most covering several national academic and Next Gen Science standards.

Cadet participation helped the squadron complete its yearly AEX requirements. Certificates were presented to Cadet Lt. Tupas, Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Audrey Carr and Austin Murphy, Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Elijah Troy, Cadet Technical Sgt. Juliean Rios, Cadet Airman Stormy Jenkins, and Cadet Yazmeen Sonora by Lt. Col. Don Aubertine, an aerospace education officer with Civil Air Patrol’s Oklahoma Wing.

Carr and Rios were recognized for earning their model rocketry badge, and Civil Air Patrol’s Crisis Service Award was also highlighted for all members of the squadron.

The squadron also reviewed accomplishments over the past year, including cadets who participated in the High Altitude Balloon Challenge in 2021, professional development and specialty track advancements by active members, and operational qualifications.

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About Civil Air Patrol
Now celebrating its 80th year, Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine Cessna aircraft and more than 2,000 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and performs about 90% of all search and rescue operations within the contiguous United States as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Often using innovative cellphone forensics and radar analysis software, CAP was credited by the AFRCC with saving 130 lives during the past fiscal year. CAP’s 60,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. As a nonprofit organization, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace education using national academic standards-based STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. Members also serve as mentors to 24,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs.

Visit www.CAP.News or www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.