Two Burke Composite Squadron Cadets Earn Prestigious General Ira C. Eaker Award
FAIRFAX, Va. (August 10, 2023) – Burke Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol (CAP), US Air Force Auxiliary, had the honor of awarding two cadets the prestigious General Ira C. Eaker Award. The awards were presented by the Mid-Atlantic Region Commander, Colonel Eugene Egry.
The General Ira C. Eaker Award is the second most prestigious award in the CAP Cadet Programs. The award is named after a very successful military aviator and a significant figure in the history of the United States Air Force. The Eaker Award is typically earned by Cadets who have shown outstanding work in all four of CAP’s Core Areas: Leadership, Aerospace, Fitness, and Character. Earning the General Ira C. Eaker Award is a recognition of a Cadet’s hard work and accomplishments throughout their journey in CAP. A cadet is promoted to the grade of cadet Lieutenant Colonel once they earn the General Ira C. Eaker Award and can lead junior ranking cadets in their wing.
The General Ira C. Eaker Awards were presented by the Mid-Atlantic Region Commander, Colonel Eugene Egry who was a Civil Air Patrol Cadet himself when he was younger. Following the awards, in his speech, Col Egry talked about the importance of being a leader and having responsibilities that could affect those around them. Throughout the meeting, he shared his own experiences in Civil Air Patrol and mentioned several honorable leaders and mentors he had met through the years who helped him in his journey in Civil Air Patrol.
Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Ten was presented the Eaker Award since he has shown exceptional skills in leadership and excellence in all aspects of the cadet core values. He has displayed admirable determination and commitment to Civil Air Patrol and has spent countless hours serving his squadron and community as a whole. He served as the 2023 Virginia Wing Encampment Cadet Commandant, responsible for supervising and mentoring sixty-seven cadet staff and over two hundred fifty cadet students. Cadet Ten will attend Purdue University as a freshman this fall.
Similarly, Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Austin Martin has fulfilled all of the leadership expectations and has earned his General Ira C. Eaker Award as well. The award he has earned represents his several achievements in his CAP career such as his noteworthy contributions in aerospace education and his unwavering dedication and constant help in the squadron. Cadet Martin received the Mid-Atlantic Region Aerospace Education Cadet of the Year in 2021 and is a sophomore at Georgia Institute of Technology. Both C/LtCol Martin and C/LtCol Ten undoubtedly inspired others in the squadron.
In addition to the Awards presentation, Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Kyle Morrison assumed the position of Cadet Commander for the squadron. In this role, he leads the 80 cadets in the squadron. The past two summers, Cadet Morrison participated in the National Blue Beret supporting the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin. Cadet Morrison joined Civil Air Patrol in October 2021.
About Virginia Wing
The Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, with 22 squadrons spread throughout the Commonwealth has approximately 1,800 members, 12 light aircraft, and 29 multi-purpose vehicles. These assets are available to federal, state and local governments, emergency responders and law enforcement agencies to perform search and rescue, homeland security, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and counter-drug missions. For more information on the Virginia Wing, visit the wing’s website at https://vawg.cap.gov/ and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/vawgcap
About Civil Air Patrol
Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education, and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the world’s largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education. Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
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For More Information:
Capt. Sara Demyanovich sara.demyanovich@vawg.cap.gov
