Virginia Wing Cadet Receives Spaatz Award

HERNDON, Va. - Cadet Colonel Kavin Ram, of Fairfax County, Virginia, and member of the Virginia Wing’s William P. Knight Composite Squadron has achieved the highest award of Civil Air Patrol’s cadet program - the General Carl A. Spaatz award. Less than one half of one percent of cadets reach this point, which takes an average of five years and progression through 16 different achievements.

Cadet Col. Ram joined Civil Air Patrol in 2015 and he has served his squadron in many positions, most recently as Cadet Commander. He has served as a Virginia Wing Cadet Advisory Council Representative, and he is also a solo pilot, continuing to work towards his private pilot license. Cadet Col. Ram is now a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley through an Air Force ROTC scholarship. The award was presented by Vice Admiral Yancy Lindsey, who studied at UC Berkeley as well.

Obtaining the Spaatz award entails passing comprehensive aerospace and leadership exams, in addition to a physical fitness test and writing an essay on a question of moral debate. Cadet Col. Ram is the 79th cadet in Virginia and is the 2280th cadet nationwide to achieve the award since its inception in 1964.

For More Information:

1st Lt. Les Flores <lester.flores@vawg.cap.gov>

Written by Cadet Capt. Halia Hoffman