Malachowski Made History as First Woman Selected as Thunderbird Pilot

Retired Air Force Col. Nicole Malachowski, a former CAP cadet who became the first female Thunderbird pilot, is featured in the National Business Aviation Association's series for Women's History Month.

Before she was commissioned into the military from the U.S. Air Force Academy and made history as the No. 3 Right Wing pilot (pictured above) with the Thunderbirds, Malachowski was a cadet in the Nevada Wing. She served in CAP six years and soloed when she was 16.

During her 21 years as an Air Force officer, leader and fighter pilot, her accomplishments were many, earning her induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2019.
Boe Remembers Space Shuttle Pilot Mission
Also in the news this week is NASA astronaut Col. Eric Boe, who piloted the final flight of Space Shuttle Discovery 10 years ago.

Boe, who got his start in aviation as a Georgia Wing cadet and earned CAP's top cadet honor, the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award, recalls his 13-day mission to service the International Space Station in an interview this week with Avgeekery.com. He now holds the CAP rank of colonel in the Texas Wing's Ellington Composite Squadron.
Calif. Unit Helps Prep Food for LA Co. Distribution
Ten members of the California Wing’s San Fernando Senior Squadron 35 recently packed 4,000 boxes of supplies at the Los Angeles Food Bank warehouse in Industry for distribution. Each box included fruit, vegetables and other staples and goes to a family in need in Los Angeles County.
 
Among those assisting were 1st Lts. Dominick Scarola, the squadron’s operations officer, and Sam Nozik, safety officer, both seen here on the assembly line.
18 Train in Record S. Dakota Cold

Despite pandemic-related limitations and record-setting cold, 18 members from across the South Dakota Wing gathered in Sioux Falls for a day of emergency services training during the East River Winter Ground Team Academy.

Nine cadets and the same number of senior members honed their search and rescue skills with instruction on ground team 24-hour pack contents, compass use, radio training and use of direction-finding equipment to find aircraft locator beacons.
2 More Cadets Earn 'Wings'
Through CAP Program

Cadet 1st Lt. Robert Britton (at right) and Cadet Lt. Col. Ronald Smith became the 73rd and 74th CAP cadets respectively to earn their private pilot certificates over the weekend through the Cadet Wings program.

Britton, a member of the Florida Wing's Gainesville Composite Squadron, received his certificate March 5.

Smith (pictured below with examiner Henry L. Joyner) belongs to the North Carolina Wing's Elizabeth City Composite Squadron. He received his certificate March 7 after flying a CAP Cessna 182T at Tri-County Airport in Hertford County.
Tenn. Squadron Honors Members in Virtual Ceremony
Members of the Tennessee Wing's Murfreesboro Composite Squadron hosted a virtual awards ceremony recently to recognize members' accomplishments over the last year.

As keynote speaker, Maj. Gen. Mark Smith, CAP's National Commander and CEO, highlighted the importance of persevering through difficult times. 

During the ceremony, State Sen. Shane Reeves (second from left in photo), presented seven cadets with the Gen. Billy Mitchell Award. He also recognized Chad Gehrke and the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport for being selected as the Tennessee Wing's Frank G. Brewer Aerospace Memorial Award recipient. 
 
"I've always been impressed with your squadron and your commitment to honor, duty and discipline," Reeves said. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to be here to recognize the work of these cadets."
80th Anniversary Coin Contest Winner Selected
The 80th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Design Contest announced Feb. 3 in PROPS generated a great deal of engagement. The 80th Anniversary Working Group received 35 entries from 21 artists representing a broad range of CAP membership, spanning cadet to senior members from wings north (Minnesota), south (Texas), east (Delaware) and west (Hawaii) and many in between.

With so many designs, choosing just one was a challenging task. The working group thanks everyone who participated in the project — every artist who submitted a design will be receiving a coin with the group's sincere gratitude.

Special congratulations to Maj. Ronald Finger of the Minnesota Wing’s Crow Wing Composite Squadron, whose design was selected as the winner.

Vanguard will take the concept shown below (at left) and reproduce the coin as accurately as the die cast process will allow. These commemorative coins will also be numbered, so supplies will be limited. Watch this space for an announcement when the coins are available for sale.

Again, thanks to all the artists who submitted designs — great work.
NHQ News
Commander Offers Recruiting and Retention Tips

National Headquarters' Marketing & Strategic Communications team is reprising National Commander Maj. Gen. Mark Smith’s Recruiting and Retention Series from 2018.

Smith's "Presence in the Local Community” is featured today.
Interested in Serving on the New Diversity Council?
CAP is accepting volunteers for the new Diversity Council. The council will serve as an advisory body for the National Commander and national staff on matters related to diversity and inclusion. It may also conduct projects and studies and develop materials to support the diversity and inclusion program.

Appointments will be for a two-year term (adjusted for the first term to allow for annual rotations). The council will meet quarterly on a virtual platform, with additional meetings as called by the National Commander or the chair. The National Cadet Advisory Council will appoint the cadet representative.

Senior members wishing to volunteer should submit their resume and a one-page narrative discussing the following:
  • Your perspectives on diversity and inclusion, specifically in CAP.
  • How you would contribute to the diversity of the council. This is not limited to race, gender, religion, etc.; include what you think is important. 

Submit packages no later than March 14 to diversity@capnhq.gov. Address any questions to the same email.
New Deadline Set for Conference Presentation Proposals
The planning team for the 2021 National Conference has extended the deadline for presentation proposals to March 24. if you have a submission in mind, you have a couple more weeks left to submit it.

This year's conference will be the organization's first hybrid face-to-face and online gathering, presenting a unique opportunity for proposals from national staff and members.

All proposals will be evaluated by a team of volunteer members and national staff, then vetted by the respective offices and functional areas for mission relevance and accuracy. Those presenters selected for the conference schedule will be notified by April 15.
Scholarship Recipients List to be Unveiled Next Week
Cadet Programs' usual March 1 scholarship announcements have been delayed this year until March 15. A link to the list of scholarship recipients will be included in next week's PROPS.

Last year, nearly 100 cadets received academic and flight scholarships worth a combined total of $155,500.
"Serve your country in an important job. Get valuable training in the fast growing aviation field. Mechanics, musicians, typists, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, photographers and airplane pilots especially needed." — The (Davenport, Iowa) Daily Times (March 8, 1945)

For "This Week in CAP History," we take a look at a 1945 ad by the Iowa Wing. See the original here.
This Week's Top Headlines
“Officials Say Pilot Killed in Small Plane Crash in Nebraska”

“Civil Air Patrol Delivers Second Round of COVID-19 Vaccines to Mobridge and Watertown”
Tweet of the Week @CivilAirPatrol

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