Updated: 03 May 2021

Recent Awards

CAWG Cadet Competition Champion 2020
Diablo Composite Squadron 44

Ultimate Bear & Wings Challenge Champions 2019
Diablo Composite Squadron 44 – “Los Diablos”

UBWC Warrior Spirit Award for Team 2019
San Francisco Cadet Squadron 86 – “Fresh Beets”

UBWC Wingman Award 2019
C/CMSgt Matthew Cruz – Fresno Comp Squadron 112

CAWG Cadet Squadron of the Year 2019
San Diego Cadet Squadron 144

CAWG Composite of the Year 2019
Fullerton Composite Squadron 56

CAWG Cadet Officer of the Year 2019
C/Capt Rebecca A. Cherry – South San Diego Cadet Sqdn 144

CAWG Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year 2019
C/CMSgt Jesse A. James – Fullerton Composite Sqdn 56

CAWG Cadet Programs Officer of the Year 2019
Lt Col Shawn O. Lawson – San Francisco Bay Group 2

Encampment Commander’s Award for Outstanding Achievement 2019
C/SrA Bijan Zarrinkhameh

Wing Commander’s Award for Academic Excellence – Encampment 2019
C/SSgt Tigerlily King

Lt Col Terry Edinboro Award for Leadership – Encampment 2019
C/2d Lt Chase Cormier – Kilo Flight Commander

CTG Commander’s Award for Support Staff Excellence – Encampment 2019
C/Maj John Dunham – CSS: Chief of Staff

Kenneth W. Sturgill Award for Training Staff Excellence – Encampment 2019
C/Lt Col Colin Rodriguez – CTG Deputy Commander for Operations

Chap. Loren Brown Award for Outstanding Leadership – Encampment 2019
Lt Col Mark Davalos – Flight Training Officer

Lt Col Jim Jenkins Award for Senior Support Staff Excellence  – Encampment 2019
Maj Paula Urbomb-Shope – Director of Administration

CAWG Cadet Competition Champion 2019
San Diego Cadet Squadron 144

CAWG Squadron of Merit 2019
Fullerton Composite Squadron 56

Ultimate Bear & Wings Challenge Champions 2018
Diablo Composite Squadron 44 – “Los Diablos”

UBWC Warrior Spirit Award for Team 2018
Capt Jay Weinsoff Cadet Sq 3 – “Fluffy Ducks”

UBWC Warrior Spirit Award for Individual 2018
C/SMSgt Carley Chapman

CAWG Cadet Squadron of the Year 2018
San Diego Cadet Squadron 144

CAWG Composite of the Year 2018
Jon E. Kramer Composite Squadron 10

CAWG Cadet Officer of the Year 2018
C/Capt Collin Chen – Capt Jay Weinsoff Cadet Sq 3

CAWG Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year 2018
C/CMSgt Varsha Penumata – East Bay Cadet Sq 18

CAWG Cadet Programs Officer of the Year 2018
Capt Shaleana Benson  – Fullerton Comp Sq 56

Encampment Commander’s Award for Outstanding Achievement 2018
C/SrA Marah Alley

Wing Commander’s Award for Academic Excellence – Encampment 2018
C/Amn Micah Caldwell

Lt Col Terry Edinboro Award for Leadership – Encampment 2018
C/Maj Perter Hockel– Cadet Training Group Commander

CTG Commander’s Award for Support Staff Excellence – Encampment 2018
C/Capt Cordaellia Farrell – CSS: Director of Mess

Kenneth W. Sturgill Award for Training Staff Excellence – Encampment 2018
C/2d Lt Holtman Dunham – Kilo Flight Commander

Chap. Loren Brown Award for Outstanding Leadership – Encampment 2018
Capt Steven Angus – Squadron Training Officer

Lt Col Jim Jenkins Award for Senior Support Staff Excellence  – Encampment 2018
Maj Stephanie Meurer – Health Services OIC

CAWG & PCR Cadet Competition Champions 2018
Skyhawk Composite Squadron 47

PCR Squadron of Distinction 2018
Diablo Composite Squadron 44

CAWG Squadron of Merit 2018
East Bay Cadet Squadron 18

Honor Cadets

One cadet is recognized for outstanding performance at wing level training activities as the “Honor Cadet”. Below are some of the recent California Wing activity honor cadets:

  • C/SSgt Stormie Weathers – Virtual NCOS 2021

Academy Appointments

2021 – Class of 2025

United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)

  • C/Maj Kayla Kim – Fullerton Composite Squadron 56
  • C/MSgt Alexander Foreman – Clover Field Composite Sq 51

United States Military Academy (USMA)

  • C/Capt Carley Chapman – Hemet-Ryan Composite Sq 59

United States Naval Academy (USNA)

  • C/A1C Chamonix Bas – Fullerton Composite Squadron 56

United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School (USAFAP)

  • C/SMSgt Jonas Grugg – Fullerton Composite Squadron 56

 

2020 – Class of 2024

United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)

  • C/Capt Holton Dunham – Edwards AFB Composite Squadron 84
  • C/2d Lt Clifford Owen – Santa Cruz Composite Sq 13
  • C/TSgt Matthew Levine – Cloverfield Composite Sq 51

United States Military Academy (USMA)

United States Naval Academy (USNA)

  • C/Capt Shane Shoemaker – Camarillo Composite Sq 61

United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School (USAFAP)

 

2019 – Class of 2023

United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)

  • C/2d Lt Enrique Arjona – Edwards AFB Composite Sq 84
  • C/CMSgt Abigail Spitler – Hemet-Ryan Composite Sq 59
  • C/SSgt Kimberly Woolfenden – Fullerton Composite Sq 56

United States Military Academy (USMA)

  •  C/SSgt Vishnu Kumar – Corona Cadet Squadron 29

 

2018 – Class of 2022

United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)

  • C/Maj Harmont Grenier – Beach Cities Cadet Squadron 107

United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School (USAFAP)

  • C/2d Lt Corrina Swift – South San Diego Cadet Squadron 201

Submitted Articles

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Group 2 Cadets and Seniors Fly on a UH-60 Blackhawk

In Spring 2018, cadets and seniors from San Francisco Bay Area Group 2 flew on a California Army National Guard UH-60 in a series of military orientation flights at San Carlos Airport. The Blackhawk helicopter lifted three groups of 11 CAP members. The rides flew “doors open”, included a thrilling low-level flight over the hills east of Half Moon Bay, and a complete circle over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Squadron 86 arranged the flight day with the California Army National Guard. The unit satisfied two functions, both to orient CAP to their UH-60 operations, and improving operational readiness for their flight crew. The crew generously flew from Fresno to San Carlos to conduct the flights, which enabled more Group 2 participation.

The day’s crew consisted of an Aircraft Commander/Pilot, a Co-Pilot, and Crew Chief. The helicopter configuration that day seated 11 passengers in addition to the flight crew.

Prior to the orientation flights, the Aircraft Commander and Crew Chief provided a safety briefing to the entire group, and answered lots of questions about the aircraft, flying, and the National Guard. Then the first group, ten cadets and one senior member, boarded the UH-60, assisted by the Crew Chief who belted everyone in. Everyone else moved to a safe area to watch the helicopter’s two powerful engines start, followed by the familiar slow rotation of the main rotor blades. In moments, the rotor blades were a blur, and the landing pad was a flurry of hot engine exhaust and hurricane-like wind. The first flight lifted off and headed west.

About 45 minutes later, the UH-60 settled back onto the landing pad. The Aircraft Commander decided to perform a “hot load”, exchanging one group for another without shutting down the helicopter. The passengers exited the helicopter in line, led by the Crew Chief. The next group boarded, having formed their own line-up. Upon a signal from the Crew Chief, the new group approached the running helicopter from a safe angle, and belted-in quickly.

The UH-60 crew had enough time to perform three flights including 2 “hot loads”. Cadets and a few senior members occupied every available seat in the helicopter. After flying, members grinned, and gave shouts and tales of the windy, loud adventure. “That was one of the most thrilling airborne experiences of my life! And I’ve been flying for 25 years!” said Lt Col Aaron Kahn, a CAP Command Pilot. The “doors open” flight, with the helicopter traveling 130 miles per hour, was enjoyable, and truly memorable.

After the final orientation flight, the CAP members gave a heartfelt thanks to the flight crew. It was certainly a special event for both Group 2, and the California Army National Guard battalion from Fresno.