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Heidenreich Achieves Civil Air Patrol's Highest Cadet Honor

July 16, 2021

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Arlington, Va.

Cadet Col. Evan Heidenreich of Prince William Composite Squadron, Virginia Wing, was presented the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Award certificate on Friday afternoon, July 16th at the Air Force Association (AFA) Headquarters. AFA Executive Vice President Maj. Gen. Doug Raaberg, USAF (Ret.), was the presiding official for this special event. Heidenreich earned his Spaatz Award, numbered #2313, on December 17, 2020, during former Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Timothy Day's tour of command.

Proud parents Col. John Heidenreich, USAF, and 1st. Lt. Beth Heidenreich, CAP, and several squadron members including current Squadron Commander Capt. Arch McKleskey and former Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Kimberly Frady, celebrated Heidenreich's cadet, academic, and athletic achievements. Heidenreich is a sophomore at Oklahoma Christian University studying Cellular and Molecular Biology and is a member of the university's Air Force ROTC, Detachment #675.

The Spaatz Award is CAP's highest cadet honor. It is presented to cadets who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness, and aerospace education. Cadets qualify for this prestigious award after devoting an average of five years to progress through sixteen achievements in the CAP Cadet Program. Along the way they develop self-discipline, a strong sense of personal responsibility, the ability to lead and persuade, and the foundation necessary for pursuing a career in aviation, space, or technology. The final step a cadet must complete to earn the Spaatz Award is a rigorous four-part exam consisting of a challenging physical fitness test, an essay exam testing their moral reasoning, a comprehensive written exam on leadership, and a comprehensive written exam on aerospace education. Upon passing the Spaatz Award exams, the cadet is promoted to the grade of cadet colonel.

On average, only five cadets in one thousand earn the Spaatz Award. Since the award’s inception in 1964, CAP has presented the Spaatz Award to only 2,300+ cadets nation-wide. Spaatz Cadets are expected to serve as role models for junior cadets, and become leaders in their communities as they enter adulthood.

Special thanks to Maj. Gen. Raaberg and the AFA for their generous support of Heidenreich and longtime partnership with CAP. Also, thank you to Capt. Julie Demyanovich and Capt. Sara Demyanovich, both of Burke Composite Squadron, for their coordination and ceremony support.

Congratulations to Cadet Col. Heidenreich and well done all around! We are so very proud of your leadership style and service to our community, state, and Nation.

To view photos of this ceremony and other squadron activities, please visit Prince William Composite Squadron's Flickr page by following this link.

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