2021 Quality Cadet Unit Award Recipients

15 Virginia Civil Air Patrol units were recognized this month for earning the 2021 Quality Cadet Unit Award (QCUA), 

The QCUA recognizes units that have vibrant cadet programs. Units must meet or exceed challenging objective criteria to qualify for the award. This year’s award, which covered a time frame of one year from August 2020 to August 2021, was earned by meeting a minimum of six criteria out of ten. Some examples included maintaining a minimum number of cadets on the roster, ensuring that new cadets that joined promoted and earned their first achievement in eight weeks, and that a certain number of cadets had met their first milestone award, transitioning from cadet airman to noncommissioned officer.   

Criteria also focused on activities including that a certain number of cadets had completed their first orientation flight (cadets that join can take advantage of 5 powered and 5 non-powered flights for free), a certain number of cadets had completed encampment (week-long cadet leadership camp), and that the unit had participated in an external aerospace education or leadership activity.  

Many of these units have received these consecutively and for many years.

MAR-VA-007 William P Knight Composite Squadron - 4th consecutive year, 4th earned

MAR-VA-017 Lynchburg Composite Squadron - 6th consecutive year, 10th earned

MAR-VA-023 Danville Composite Squadron – 2nd consecutive year, 4th earned

MAR-VA-025 Langley Composite Squadron - 6th consecutive year, 11th earned

MAR-VA-040 Winchester Composite Squadron - 3rd consecutive year, 5th earned

MAR-VA-060 Southside Composite Squadron - 7th consecutive year, 7th earned

MAR-VA-088 Newport News Composite Squadron - 6th consecutive year, 6th earned

MAR-VA-094 Hanover Composite Squadron- 5th earned

MAR-VA-095 Coastal Composite Squadron - 7th consecutive year, 7th earned

MAR-VA-102 Prince William Composite Squadron - 9th consecutive year, 9th earned

MAR-VA-108 Fredericksburg Composite Squadron - 11th consecutive year, 11th earned

MAR-VA-117 Leesburg Composite Squadron - 11th consecutive year, 11th earned

MAR-VA-130 Burke Composite Squadron - 4th consecutive year, 7th earned

MAR-VA-135 Minuteman Composite Squadron - 7th consecutive year, 7th earned

MAR-VA-141 Hampton Roads Composite Squadron- 8th earned

A special congratulations to Newport News and Leesburg for meeting 7 out of 7 criteria, of which only 20 units in the nation met, and to Knight, Winchester, Hanover, and Burke for meeting 6 out of 7 criteria, of which only 69 units in the nation met. These four units are in top 9% of units for exceeding the minimum criterion.

Virginia Wing’s Commander, Col. Liz Sydow, commented, “Earning this award demonstrates that a unit is healthy and thriving. This past year was particularly challenging because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to membership growth across the state into the next year as we continue to safely have in-person activities again, shaping our nation’s future leaders.”