Martin squadron hosts annual awards banquet
Middle River, MD. – Members from the Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron gathered to recognize members during the annual awards banquet. The event concludes a great year of achievements, both from individual members and the squadron.
Captain Philip Vogelgesang and Cadet Major Robert Miner emceed the event. Supporting them were Cadet Second Lieutenant Felix Caratini and Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Jose E. Boscana.
Cadet Jonathan Yong-Yi Ku earned the Cadet Recruiter award for recruiting two new members to the squadron.
Earning the Red Service Award for two years of service included Cadet CMSgt. Kendall Jarrett, Cadet SrA. Isabel Morales, Cadet Timothy Fitzwater, Cadet MSgt. Zachary Packer, Cadet 2nd. Lt. Blaidd Wilt and Cadet CMSgt. Willis Morales. Senior officers completing two years of service were 2nd. Lt. Samuel Packer, Captain Brent Hippert, Captain Joseph Morales and Sm. Karen Packer.
Members completing five years of service include Cadet Capt. Valerie Purdie, Cadet Major Robert Miner, Major Dean Hines and Sm. Beverly Smith.
Lt. Col. Earl ‘Rock’ Williams completed fifteen years of service.
Also recognized was Lt. Col. Gus Gostomski, who joined Civil Air Patrol July 23, 1951, making him the longest serving member in Maryland Wing. Our newest squadron member joined the unit two days before the banquet.
The squadron presented the 2018 – 2019 Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education Excellence Award. The squadron earns the award for conducting specific lessons and activities to further enhance the Aerospace Education mission. Major Dean Hines and Captain Agatha Vogelgesang planned and taught each of the lessons. Twenty-five individual cadets who participated in the lessons and activities each received a personalized award.
Cadets completing achievement one of the CAP Cadet Program earn the General John Curry Award and promotion to Cadet Airman. Cadets promoted were Carson May, Samantha Sparks, Timothy Kaczkowski, Jeremy Aggrey-Orleans and Giovanni Nuth. Sixteen cadets earned the Curry award in 2019.
Cadets completing achievement three of the CAP Cadet Program earn the Colonel Mark Feik Achievement and promotion to Cadet Senior Airman. Cadets promoted were Jonathan Yong-Yi Ku and Isabel Morales. Five cadets earned the Feik award in 2019.
Cadet Antonio Pessaro completed achievement four of the CAP Cadet Program, earned the Captain Eddie Rickenbacker Award and promotion to Cadet Tech. Sergeant. Pessaro was one of four cadets to earn the Rickenbacker award in 2019.
Cadet Kendall Jarrett completed achievement seven of the CAP Cadet Program, earned the Doctor Robert Goddard Award and promotion to Cadet Chief Master Sergeant. Four other cadets also earned the Goddard award in 2019.
Former Cadet Commander Greggor Hines, after finishing phase four of the CAP Cadet Program, was promoted to Cadet Lieutenant Colonel.
Senior member Amy Sparks completed level 1 of the CAP Professional Development Program.
Members of the unit supported the 2019 CAP National Conference in Baltimore, by helping at the airport, hotel and many other locations throughout the week. Earning a CAP Achievement Award for support are Cadet Benjamin Rohm and Cadet Nathanial Rohm.
Maryland Air National Guard hosted a change of command ceremony in Baltimore September 14, 2019. Cadet Zachary Packer earned a CAP Achievement Award for supporting the event.
Cadet Captain Valerie Purdie received a CAP Achievement Award for her term as Cadet Commander from July 2018 thru August 2019.
Captain Joseph Morales earned a CAP Achievement Award for acting as mentor and coordinator of the squadron CyberPatriot Teams in 2018 and 2019.
Captain’s Joseph Toskes and Jane Toskes earned CAP Achievement Awards for supporting our members at the CCBC flight simulators.
2nd. Lt. Samuel Packer earned a CAP Achievement Award for outstanding support of our cadet activities.
1st. Lt. William Miner was presented the 2019 Maryland Wing Property Manager of the Year Award.
1st. Lt. Corey Cameron earned the CAP Proficient Pilot Award. This award recognizes pilots that complete phase one of the Federal Aviation Administration’s WINGS safety program.
Cadet Major Robert Miner was presented the Air Force Associations Outstanding Cadet of the Year Award.
Maryland Wing Vice Commander, Lt. Col. John Henderson, presented Capt. Phil Vogelgesang the new coin he designed for the Robert Ayres Memorial Flight Scholarship Program.
Cadet Colonel Wyatt Hartman was presented the General Carl A. Spaatz Award. The Spaatz award is the capstone award for the CAP Cadet Program. Only 2,243 cadets nationwide have earned the award since its inception in 1964. Brigadier General Edward Jones, Assistant Adjutant General – Air for the Maryland Air National Guard, presented Hartman the award.
Presenting Hartman an Executive Citation was Mrs. Gabby Slocomb, district six community outreach coordinator for the Baltimore County Executive Offices for Community Engagement.
Mr. Paul Blitz, Chief of Staff for Maryland Delegate Ric Metzgar, presented citations on behalf of Metzgar, Maryland Senator Johnny Ray Salling, Delegate Robin Grammer and Delegate Robert Long.
Members were presented “Of the Year” awards to recognize specific accomplishments throughout the year.
Most improved cadet, Cadet Antonio Pessaro
Most motivated cadet, Cadet Nathanael Rohm
Unsung hero, Cadet Blaidd Wilt
Earl ‘Roc’ Williams spirit award, Cadet Valerie Purdie
Cadet NCO of the Year, Cadet Zachary Packer
Cadet Officer of the Year, Cadet Matthew Gray
Honor flight, Charlie Flight, led by Cadet Benjamin Rohm
Eternal service award, Lt. Col. Christopher Roche
Biggest heart award, Lt. Col. Earl ‘Roc’ Williams
Making a difference award, Sm. Beverly Smith
Constant contributor award, Capt. Nadine Hartman
Back in the day award, Lt. Col. Gus Gostomski
Mission impossible award, Lt. Col. Walt Coats
Prop wash award, Capt. Brent Hippert
Hospitality award, 2nd. Lt. Itamar Braga
Mad scientist award, Major Dean Hines
Cadet of the Year was presented to Cadet CMSgt. Nathanael Rohm.
Senior officer of the year was presented to 2nd. Lt. Christine Hansen.
Cadet CMSgt. Kristina Boscana and Lt. Col. Earl ‘Roc’ Williams photographed the event.
The squadron color guard, consisting of Cadets Timothy Fitzwater, Zachary Packer, Kendall Jarrett and Antonio Pessaro, presented the colors for the banquet.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Essex, MD. hosted the 175 members and guests. Ikaros Restaurant in Baltimore catered the event.
Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron meets every Thursday from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Martin State Airport. For information on the squadron, including meeting address and contact information, visit www.glmcscap.org. Follow the squadron on Facebook at www.facebook.com/glmcscap and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/glmcscap.
Nearly 1,500 CAP members serve in Maryland. Last year wing members flew 13 search and rescue missions. The wing was credited with four finds. Maryland Wing flew 32 missions for the State of Maryland. Members flew 2,245 hours in all mission categories. Volunteers contributed services estimated at $4.6 million. For more information, contact the Maryland Wing at www.mdcap.org or follow the wing on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandWingCivilAirPatrol.
Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees. CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 78 lives annually. Civil Air Patrol’s 56,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program. Performing missions for America for the past 75 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com for more information.
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Lt. Col Christopher Roche
Public Affairs Officer
Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron
For More Information:
Lt. Col Christopher Roche
Public Affairs Officer
Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron