Civil Air Patrol squadron honors Cadets of the Year

The Civil Air Patrol's Tar River Composite Squadron recongized four cadets with its 2022 Cadet of the Year Awards during a June 22 ceremony at the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport.

Carol Ludwig from the Daughters of the American Revolution's Micajeh Pettaway Chapter presented Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Kennedy Beal with the Daughters of the American Revolution Cadet of the Year Award. The DAR Outstanding Cadet Medal is awarded to a cadet of outstanding ability and achievement in a non-ROTC military-affiliated cadet program funded by a school or privately funded. The recipient can be a female or male cadet.

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Savannah Beal received the Air Force Sergeant Association Cadet of the Year Award. This award recognizes an enlisted cadet at the squadron level throughout the United States for an exceptionally meritorious service or exceptionally outstanding achievement.

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Zach Beal received the Veterans of Foreign Wars Association Cadet of the Year Award. To be eligible for the honor, a cadet should hold the rank of cadet staff sergeant through cadet master sergeant and should be in good academic standing, be showing satisfactory progress in CAP, demonstrate outstanding achievement in community service, aerospace education and leadership. The cadet should display outstanding military bearing and conduct in and out of uniform, display patriotism and demonstrate growth potential.

Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Grayson Nesbit received the Air and Space Force Association Cadet of the Year Award. The award may go to any cadet at any level of achievement in the CAP Cadet Program who has displayed superior performance during the year.

Kennedy, Savannah and Zach Beal are Wilson residents. Nesbit is a resident of Macclesfield.

Tar River Commander, First Lt. Stephen Beal expressed appreciation to the organizations supporting the Cadet of the Year awards saying: "It was great that we could partner with such amazing and generous organizations to make sure the contributions of our cadets do not go unnoticed," said squadron commander 1st Lt. Stephen Beal. "Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer organization, so one of the most important ways we 'pay' our members is through recognition of their accomplishments."

Beal went on to congratulate the awardees: "Each of these cadets worked very hard all year to be where they are right now, and we are so proud of all their contributions."

Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, the Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education and to promote general aviation.

The CAP's Tar River Composite Squadron meets from 7-9 p.m. on Thursdays at the Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport, 7265 Air Terminal Drive outside Elm City. For more information, visit the @TarRiverCAP page on Facebook or contact the commander, 1st Lt. Stephen Beal, at 252-290-8417 or stephen.beal@ncwgcap.org.