(above) In attendance were special guests Major Jamie Currey, Captain Plunkett, and Captain Jill Milstein.
Local Civil Air Patrol Squadron Achievements
Submitted by Cadet Master Sergeant Niyati Shah
On Tuesday, August 20, 2019, Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Anushka Kumar, a resident of Watchung, New Jersey, accepted command as the new Cadet Commander of a local Civil Air Patrol (CAP) squadron, the Captain “Bud” Jackson Composite Squadron (NJ-102). This prestigious role was passed on to her by Cadet Major Veronica Vergara, a resident of Scotch Plains, NJ, who has graduated high school and has started her college life at Rutgers University.
The Change of Command ceremony was conducted by Cadet Major Veronica Vergara, as previous Cadet Commander, Capt. Sachin Adbe, as Squadron Commander, and Cadet Master Sergeant Isaac Allen, as guidon bearer. The ceremony consisted of Cadet Major Vergara relinquishing command and passing on the squadron guidon to Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Kumar. The passing on of the guidon symbolizes not only a change in command, but the passing on of responsibility and expectations.
Cadet Commander isn’t just a title, with the title comes tremendous responsibility. Cadet Kumar now acts as the liaison between the cadet body and senior member staff and ensures compliance with CAP regulations and policies in all squadron activity. She would set goals and develop training plans for the squadron to improve with. Under her leadership, the squadron will work towards the shared goal of maximizing cadet participation, recruitment, and striving for excellence. Cadet Kumar will lead and command 102 cadets, and it is not a small responsibility for a teenager.
Cadet Kumar joined the CAP in 2016 and has been an active member of the squadron, consistently rising in rank ever since. She has utilized many opportunities to learn about emergency services, leadership, cyber security, and STEM based topics. She leads drills and ceremonies, teaches about positive character traits, and encourages cadets to promote. She has become a role model to her peers and has inspired them to “Aim High”.
During the same ceremony night, several other cadets were commended for their notable achievements. Cadet Paul Koizumi, resident of Fanwood, NJ, achieved a major milestone, the Billy Mitchell Award, promoting in rank to Cadet 2nd Lieutenant. This milestone signifies a transition from the leadership to executive phase of the Cadet Program. Additionally, twenty-four cadets were awarded the Encampment ribbon after completion of the rigorous Air Force-style boot camp at the Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst in Trenton, NJ. These cadets, along with staffing cadets, Cadet Kumar, Bellam, and Pant were commended for their hard-work and effort. In attendance were special guests Major Jamie Currey, Captain Plunkett, and Captain Jill Milstein.
Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Manali Shah was awarded an Achievement Award for her service in assisting a cadet with a medical emergency that had occurred at one of the squadron’s weekly meetings. Cadet Chief Shah, a resident of Scotch Plains, NJ, is in training as an EMT and is a volunteer with the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad. She is majorly involved in some of the CAP’s main missions: Emergency Services, Search and Rescue missions, and Disaster Relief.
The Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program is an afterschool program open to all Middle School and High School students from ages 12 to 18. Since CAP is part of the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, the cadet program teaches and challenges cadets to excel in discipline, character, community service (emergency service), Aerospace-STEM education, and Air Force customs and courtesies. The goal is to Aim High as cadets. For more information about the CAP cadet program, please contact CAP Captain Jose Vergara atjose.vergara@njwg.cap.gov or visit the CAP webpage at gocivilairpatrol.com.
(above) The passing on of the guidon from previous Cadet Commander Cadet Major Veronica Vergara to Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Anushka Kumar symbolizes not only a change in command, but the passing on of responsibility and expectations.
(above) Cadet Paul Koizumi, resident of Fanwood, NJ, achieved a major milestone, the Billy Mitchell Award, promoting in rank to Cadet 2nd Lieutenant.
(above) Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Manali Shah was awarded an Achievement Award for her service in assisting a cadet with a medical emergency that had occurred at one of the squadron’s weekly meetings.
