By Capt. Marvin A. Goldberg
ALLENTOWN CAP CADETS WIN HONORS
Allentown, New Jersey. June 1, 2009. The officers of the Allentown Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol have played an important role in training local teens, 12 to 18 years of age in aerospace education, moral leadership, physical fitness, personal leadership and discipline, and emergency services and disaster preparedness support. Five of the unit’s cadets have now completed the first eight phases of the 16-phase cadet training program and will be awarded the Brigadier General Billy Mitchell award on Thursday evening June 18th at 8:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church on High Street in Allentown, NJ.
Completion of this program will provide the cadets with “special activity opportunities” including CAP scholarships, various CAP glider and powered flight academies, and NASA programs such as the National Space Academy. Mitchell Award recipients are eligible to receive the grade of E-3 upon enlistment in the U.S. Air Force and may also receive credit toward AFROTC’s General Military Course. The military academies also look favorably upon cadets who have earned the Mitchell Award. Over 57,000 cadets have achieved this honor since its inception in 1964.
Cadet Commander Chief M/Sgt. Brett Young, a student at Steinert High School, son of Kenneth and Diane Young of Yardville, will be promoted to Cadet 2nd Lt. His current interests include school sports, clubs and other activities. He hopes to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy; approximately 10 per cent of the current U.S. Air Force Academy class is made up of former CAP cadets.
Cadet Flight Leader Chief M/Sgt. Matthew Gottlieb, a student at Allentown High School, son of Jeff and Kathleen Gottlieb of Milltown Township, has won promotion to Cadet 2nd Lt. Gottlieb is looking forward to a career as an officer with the U.S. Marine Corps.
Element Leader Chief M/Sgt. Anthony Coppa, a student at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, son of Mario and Donna Coppa of Millstone Township, has won promotion to Cadet 2nd Lt. Lt. Coppa is currently a member of the NJROTC drill team. He is looking forward to becoming a U.S. Navy Officer specializing in engineering studies.
C/Chief MSgt. Mario Coppa IV, a student at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, son of Mario Coppa III and Donna Coppa, has won promotion to Cadet 2nd Lt. Coppa is currently a member of the NJROTC drill team, and is interested in archery, hunting, and fishing. His future ambitions include a commission as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps or as a New Jersey State Police Officer and completion of college studies.
C/Chief Msgt. Daniella Pillar, a student at Allentown High School, daughter of Kevin and Maria Pillar of Allentown, has won promotion to C/2nd Lt. She is currently interested in mastering the guitar and is active in various youth groups. Daniella will be attending Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio and intends to become a youth minister and teacher.
A non-profit organization with more than 55,000 members nationwide, CAP officers play a leading role in fostering aerospace education and serve as mentors to over 25,000 young people currently participating in the CAP Cadet Program. New Jersey CAP pilots are continuously poised to fly missions for the U.S. Air Force, Department of Homeland Security, Red Cross Disaster Operations, and the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management. CAP performs 95 percent of inland emergency air and ground search and rescue missions and last year was credited by the U.S. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center with saving over 90 lives.
Teens and adults interested in serving with Civil Air Patrol can log onto www.njwg.cap.gov which provides New Jersey group and squadron meeting locations. For general information about CAP programs contact Captain Marvin A. Goldberg, Group 224 Public Affairs Officer at [email protected] . For information about the Allentown Composite Squadron cadet program contact Major Gregory Putnam at [email protected] or the unit website at http://allentown.njwg.cap.gov/.
Photos and Captions: See attachments.
