(above) Cadet Second Lieutenant Manali Shah is second from left and Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Niyati Shah is fourth with cadets from the Captain “Bud” Jackson Composite Squadron.
Local Civil Air Patrol Cadets Annual Legislative Day
Submitted by Capt Jose G. Vergara, CAP, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary
Civil Air Patrol (C.A.P.) cadets, Cadet Second Lieutenant (C/2nd Lt) Manali Shah and Cadet Chief Master Sergeant (C/CMSgt) Niyati Shah, both residents of Scotch Plains, from the Captain Bud Jackson Composite Squadron, recently traveled to Washington D.C., for a three-day trip to attend Legislative Day. This is a national event for the C.A.P. program, where each state sends representatives from the various congressional districts to speak on behalf of their squadrons and wing, and request for an increase in funding for C.A.P. ‘s main missions.
Cadets Manali Shah and Niyati Shah were chosen on behalf of their community, New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, to speak to Congressmen and Congresswomen about their interests, motivations to join C.A.P., future aspirations, and funding matters. Cadets explained how approximately 1,600 C.A.P. volunteer members across New Jersey actively participate in activities including Aerospace Education, Cybersecurity, Military Drone programs, Search and Rescue, and Disaster Relief and Emergency Services Missions. As an organization, we support the NJ Office of Emergency Management, FEMA and all branches of the military and government. Nationally, with 66,000 C.A.P. volunteers, C.A.P. has 560 aircraft, hundreds of drones, 900 ground team vehicles, thousands of radios of back-up communications- all to support missions for America and to create the dynamic aerospace and emergency response leaders of tomorrow.
The cadets were able to speak with other Congressmen, Congresswomen, and their staff including Mr. Andrew Kim, Mr. Joshua Gottheimer, Mr. Donald Norcross, Mr. Jefferson Van Drew, Mr. Christopher Smith, among others. In addition, they received a wonderful opportunity to converse with Senator Corey Booker’s staff. Cadets also got to meet the Civil Air Patrol National Commander, Major General Mark E. Smith, who made a special appearance at the Legislative Day conference.
It is impossible to visit the nation’s capital and not do some sightseeing! In addition to the US Senate Building and the Capitol, Cadets Manali Shah, Niyati Shah and their fellow New Jersey representatives visited the renowned Library of Congress, where they admired the beautiful architecture and intricate artwork. They also visited the United States Air Force Memorial in Arlington, VA, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the Washington Monument.
The Civil Air Patrol (C.A.P.) Cadet Program is open to all Middle School and High School students from ages 12 to 18. For more information about the C.A.P., please contact Captain Jose Vergara at jose.vergara@njwg.cap.gov or visit the C.A.P. webpage at gocivilairpatrol.com.
(above) Cadet Second Lieutenant Manali Shah is fifth and Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Niyati Shah is eleventh with cadets with the New Jersey Civil Air Patrol delegation.
