Civil Air Patrol Cadet Caroline D’Souza, a Bishop George Ahr High School graduate, has earned the Civil Air Patrol Billy Mitchell Award.
The award was presented to D’Souza by New Jersey Wing Commander Colonel Steve Tracy in a special awards ceremony held at the VFW Hall on Washington Street in Manville on June 14.
D’Souza is currently preparing to attend the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, Essex County, to study chemical engineering.
To qualify for the Mitchell Award, D’Souza passed comprehensive exams on leadership, aerospace technology and aviation history.
This award is named in honor of Gen. Billy Mitchell, who advocated for an independent air force, realizing the importance of aviation to America. He demonstrated the military significance of air power by sinking several captured battleships from the air in 1921. The Doolittle Raiders flew B-25 “Billy Mitchell” bombers in their daring 1942 raid on Tokyo.
Cadet 2nd Lieutenant D’Souza currently serves in the Raritan Valley Composite Squadron, which has 120 members, evenly divided between Cadets, 12-18 years of age and seniors.
Squadron Cadets participate in CAP programs including the Wing Encampment, Robotics and Cyber Competitions, Drone training, Search and Rescue missions and exercises, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities) and orientation flights.
Last year cadets marched in the annual John Basilone Parade, placed wreaths on veterans’ graves, assisted at the Solberg Balloon Festival, and supported numerous community events. The squadron recently received a Unit Citation as the New Jersey CAP Wing Squadron of Merit.
The Raritan Valley Composite Squadron (RVCS) meets on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. at the Central Jersey Regional Airport on Millstone Road, just south of Manville.
Prospective Cadets and their parents are always welcome and adults seeking aviation, mentoring, or service opportunities are invited as well.
For more information contact RVCS Commander Captain Donald Brewer at 908-526-8199.
The Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the United States Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 56,000 members nationwide.