Operation Pulse Lift Collects 10,000 Units of Blood
Operation Pulse Lift last week exceeded more than 10,000 units of blood collected for the American Red Cross during Civil Air Patrol's response to COVID-19, potentially saving over 30,000 lives by Red Cross estimates. 
Lt. Col. Bob Ditch, incident commander for the mission, said the 22-month blood collection campaign is “the longest series of blood donation center operations in the nation by a single organization” during the pandemic. 
 
Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern called CAP “an incredible partner in responding not only to the urgent need for critical blood products” but also the need for facilities to host blood drives.
Every unit of blood collected through the combined efforts of Civil Air Patrol volunteers saves three lives. Through Valentine's Day, Operation Pulse Lift has collected this number of units:
Operation Pulse Lift's new two-year COVID-19 anniversary (April 15) stretch goal is 12,000 units.
N.Y., Ga. Cadets Earn 'Wings' Through CAP Program

Cadet 2nd Lt. Joshua Dykstra of the New York Wing and Peyton Gale of the Georgia Wing recently earned their FAA private pilot certificates, becoming CAP's newest pilots.

Dykstra (left) was awarded a scholarship through CAP’s Cadet Wings program that paid for his flight training in full.

“I thought I wasn't going to be able to achieve my dream of flying until later in life. The Cadet Wings program gave me the chance to complete my private pilot license, here at age 20," said Dykstra, a member of the Rochester Composite Squadron, and the 146th CAP cadet to graduate through Cadet Wings nationwide.

Gale (right with his examiner, Kevin Harper) is the 147th Cadet Wings graduate. He belongs to the West Georgia Composite Squadron in Columbus.

Cadet Wings is funded through the U.S. Air Force in an effort to overcome a looming shortage of pilots. It is awarded to CAP cadets to offset the cost of flight training.
Command Council to Meet in Limited Capacity,
National Legislative Day Campaign Begins
CAP’s Command Council will meet Feb.18-19 in Arlington, Virginia. To help mitigate health risks, only Command Council members, region command chiefs, and a few staff members will attend in person. All will be vaccinated and will wear masks. Additional CAP leaders and senior staff will participate in the meeting virtually. 
 
Also, while most of CAP’s more than 400 meetings with members of Congress this year will again be online, senior leaders and wing commanders will meet in person with more than 30 key legislators and their staffs Feb. 17. 

Those meeting with congressional staffers will share CAP’s latest Report to Congress and supporting documents like the 2022 Fact Sheet and individual wing reports. Those documents are available online, as is the digital version of the Report to Congress.
New ACE Record: 80,000 Students Enrolled in '21-'22
For academic year 2021-2022, CAP’s K-6 Aerospace Connections in Education program has set a student participation record with 80,298 students — a number that's still growing. 

In all, 488 teachers in 418 schools involved, and 90% of the ACE public schools are Title l schools. ACE provides CAP teacher members with 21 lessons per grade level in the areas of character development, physical fitness, and academics revolving around an aerospace theme.

“The ACE program is making a difference in classrooms around the country with improved attendance, greater student interest in a variety of STEM careers, and increases in science thinking test scores," said Aerospace/STEM Education Outreach Director Susan Mallett.

Registration began in August and will continue through March.
NHQ News
AE Team Provides Black History Month Lessons
Diversity has been woven into the fabric of Civil Air Patrol since its founding in 1941. With that in mind, CAP's Aerospace Education team offers these Black History Month Lessons.

The AE team is also proud of a new Tuskegee Airmen curriculum module on Gen. Chappie James, the first African American to become a four-star general in the U.S. military. The module will soon be available to CAP's aerospace education members and their students.

Check out this preview of a sample lesson on Gen. Chappie James.
Applications Sought for Investment Committee
CAP's Investment Advisory Committee is accepting applications for two vacancies. Applications will be accepted indefinitely until the positions are filled.
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