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Miner earns Spaatz award

October 7, 2020

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Middle River, MD. – Cadet Robert Miner, a member of Civil Air Patrol Maryland Wing’s Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron, earned the highest achievement a cadet can earn, the General Carl A. Spaatz Award.

On September 19, 2020, Miner was awarded the General Carl A. Spaatz Award, the highest award a CAP cadet can earn. The test is comprised of four parts: a written essay, physical fitness test and two written tests, leadership and aerospace education, each comprised of information learned from day 1 of a cadet’s membership. The cumulative test is controlled and conducted in coordination of the United States Air Force. Since the inception of the Spaatz Award for CAP cadets in 1964, only 2,302 cadets have earned the award. Cadets earning this award are promoted to Cadet Colonel.

Miner joined Martin squadron in June 2014. He excelled in the cadet program and earned the first milestone award, the Wright Brothers Award, in March 2015. He graduated from Tri-Wing Encampment in June 2015.

In 2015, Miner submitted an essay sponsored by the Baltimore Ravens, showcasing volunteerism throughout the state of Maryland. His essay was selected, and the squadron was featured on a segment aired on local NBC station WBAL. Additionally, members were given tickets to attend a Raven’s game and had the opportunity to stand on the sideline during team practice before the game.

Miner continued progressing through the cadet program. He earned the General Billy Mitchell Award in August 2016 and the Amelia Earhart Award in April 2018.

Miner graduated from Eastern Technical High School in Baltimore County in May 2018. He was accepted and began attending University of Maryland Baltimore County in August 2018. He originally had selected Civil Engineering as his major, but CAP later gave him another path forward.

Miner’s first National Cadet Special Activity was the Cyber Defense Training Academy held in Laurel, MD in 2018. He attended the advanced academy in 2019. His attendance at this academy led Miner to change his major in college to Information Systems, with a focus on cyber security. He also became a lead for the squadrons CyberPatriot teams in 2018 and 2019.

Miner completed his CAP leadership training at Lagley Air Force Base in July 2019, graduating from Region Cadet Leadership School. He was appointed Cadet Commander in August 2019. Later in 2019, Miner was selected to receive the Air Force Association’s CAP Outstanding Squadron Cadet of the Year Award.

Miner completed the CAP cadet program in January 2020, earning the Ira C. Eaker Award. Mid-Atlantic Region Commander Colonel Bruce Heinlein joined the Maryland Wing Commander, Colonel Joe Winter, to present the award during a squadron meeting.

Shortly thereafter, in-person meetings were canceled due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Miner, working with the rest of the cadet and senior staff, began holding virtual meetings to keep cadets engaged and active. Throughout the spring, Miner was also training his replacement, and ended his command term in June 2020 to focus on his increasing college workload. Miner was selected to represent Maryland Wing at the 2020 Cadet Officer School, held at Maxwell Air Force Base. That event was also canceled this year.

Miner remained at the squadron, mentoring and teaching young cadet NCO’s and officers, who will be the future cadet leaders of the Civil Air Patrol.

The Spaatz award is named after General Cart “Tooey” Spaatz. He was the commander of Strategic Air Forces Europe in 1944 and became Chief of Staff of the new United States Air Force in 1947.

The complete interview that aired on WBAL as part of the honor row selection can be found here:

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/maryland-civil-air-patrol-gets-honor-row-at-ravens-game/7096430#

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 is the longtime auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and as such is a valued member of its Total Force. In its auxiliary role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 single-engine aircraft and 1,550 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). It performs about 90% 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 82 lives annually. CAP’s 66,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Operating as a nonprofit organization, CAP also plays a leading role in STEM/aerospace education, and its members serve as mentors to 28,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit http://www.CAP.News or http://www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com for more information.

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Lt. Col Christopher Roche

Public Affairs Officer

Glenn L. Martin Composite Squadron

Tagged As: Cadet Programs Spaatz award

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