Georgia Wing's Garrett to Assume Command of Southeast Region

A former Civil Air Patrol cadet — now a CAP wing commander with more than 40 years of leadership and management skills in military, volunteer, civilian, and federal government service — will soon command the organization’s Southeast Region.

This week, Col. Jeffrey L. Garrett was appointed the region’s next commander by Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, CAP’s national commander/CEO. Garrett will succeed Col. Andrea Van Buren, who has commanded the six-wing region since August 2019.

Garrett, Georgia Wing commander since October 2019, will assume command at the Georgia Wing Conference in September.

“Col. Garrett was selected from among a highly competitive field of candidates because of his demonstrated outstanding leadership and his strategic acumen,” Phelka said. “I have the highest confidence that Col. Garrett’s varied senior leadership experience both inside and outside CAP will continue the legacy of excellence in Southeast Region.”

Cadet Wings Pilot: Joining Civil Air Patrol

'One of the Best Decisions ... in My Life'

Cadet Col. Jacob Brown of the Texas Wing’s Redbird Composite Squadron and Cadet Maj. Samuel Ten of the Virginia Wing’s Burke Composite Squadron recently earned their private pilot certificates through the Civil Air Patrol Youth Aviation Initiative's Cadet Wings program.

Brown (pictured, above left and at left with his brother, Cleveland Brown Jr.) reported last week to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where he plans to major in government. His brother is a junior officer candidate at the academy.

Ten (above right) plans to become an airline pilot. His next step is to participate in Purdue University’s professional flight program and obtain a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot License so he can begin flying for an airline at 1,000 hours. 

The Cadet Wings application window for the upcoming fiscal year opened July 1. It will close at noon Sept. 30.

41 Cadets Gather for Far East Encampment

Cadet encampments are a familiar summer activity for CAP's 52 wings, but that’s far from the case for the 12 Overseas Group squadrons on military installations in six nations in Europe and Asia and the territory of Guam.

Geography presents a particular hurdle for the squadrons in Japan, Korea, and Guam, as air travel is necessary for any three squadrons to meet in one place.

This summer the 2023 Far East Encampment marked the first such activity overseas overseas in the Pacific since 2019 to involve squadrons from more than one country.

Slocumb Recognized as 'Certified Innovator'

Maj. Marybeth Slocumb of the Minnesota Wing's North Hennepin Composite Squadron (featured here in a Project Mercury video) has earned the “Certified Innovator” credential upon recent completion of the U.S. Air Force/Innovatrium Project Mercury certification course.

The 12-week course encompasses academic study, practical application of innovation concepts, and the opportunity to pitch an innovation to Air Force leadership.

As a result of her work and dedication as a member of Cohort 9, Slocumb received Project Mercury’s “Certified Innovator” credential, and is now coaching students participating in Cohort 10.

NHQ News

Annual Report Touts CAP Support, Impact

The past fiscal year was a year of growth as represented in Civil Air Patrol's 2022 Annual Report. The publication is now available online, providing valued CAP supporters with an opportunity to see their impact in America's communities.

"We are appreciative of your support, and because of you, we continue to pursue opportunities to build America’s future that are life-changing through our cadet programs and scholarships, emergency services, and aerospace education," said Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, CAP's national commander/CEO, and Kristina Jones, CAP's chief of philanthropy, in a joint letter to those supporters.

The publication lists CAP contributors in its Commander's Circle recognition society and reflects growth in the number of endowments within the Civil Air Patrol Foundation.

Several donor features are included as well, including a look at a CAP Foundation board trustee and longtime CAP member who has established a cadet flight scholarship in memory of his cousin, Cornelia Fort. Fort was a CAP member during the early 1940s, when female pilots were still a novelty.

“This scholarship is a reminder of the diversity of our membership,” Jones said.

Aircraft Artwork Continues as Silvered Wings Series

The popularity of Maj. Ronald C. Finger's “Timeline Flight” paintings leading up to CAP's 80th anniversary has inspired a second series of vintage aircraft artwork — the Silvered Wings Series.

Debuting in August 2022 and continuing into 2023, this series once again features the work of Finger, a national staff member on CAP's Marketing & Strategic Communications team.

Check out the latest vintage CAP aircraft in this Silvered Wings Series, as posted on CAP.news:

This Week's Top Headlines

“Flying High in the Friendly Skies”

-Yahoo.com

“Aspiring Pilot Hits All the High Notes with Flying Musicians Association”

-AOPA.org

“Little Rock AFB Hosts Civil Air Patrol Cadets”

-USAPatriotism.org

“How an Eagle County (Colo.) Student is Pursuing a Career in Military Aviation at Age 16”

-VailDaily.com

“Youth Take Flight as Part of Unique Greenville (N.C.) Program”

-WNCT.com

“Tennessee Civil Air Patrol Group 2 Changes Command"

-Chattanoogan.com

“Three Things to Know About Civil Air Patrol's Summer Youth Program"

-Newscenter1.tv

Tweet of the Week @Civil Air Patrol

InstaPhoto of the Week #Civil Air Patrol

Check out this Instagram Reel (click on the image) from Voice of America Indonesia, featuring Cadet Master Sgt. Ida Ayu Maharani Sophia Yogi of the National Capital Wing's Tuskegee Composite Squadron:

Operation Pulse Lift experienced the largest single-day collection in its history during a Joint CAP/Armed Services Blood Program event at Fort Knox on July 1. Assisted by the Kentucky Wing, the Blood Donor Center event collected 323 units (last record was set at the Air Force Academy with 301 units). This was the first of 13 Joint CAP/Armed Services Blood Program events scheduled at Fort Knox between July 1 and Aug. 15.

For more information, go to Operation Pulse Lift's new webpage on GoCivilAirPatrol.com. There you will find the latest Blood Donation Center schedules, instructions on how to set up a BDC, and other mission information.