Maine Civil Air Patrol Cadets aim high in competition

The Auburn-Lewiston Composite Squadron team from left are Cadet Maj. Sean Haggerty, CAP; Cadet Master Sgt. William Morris, CAP; Cadet Chief Master Sgt. William Vaden, CAP; Cadet Airman 1st Class Guy Thurston, CAP; Cadet Airman 1st Class Owen Dunn, CAP; and Cadet Senior Master and Sgt. Cassidy Strange, CAP. 2nd Lt. Amanda Goldman, CAP photo

AUGUSTA — Integrity, excellence, and respect were on display at the Augusta Armory on Oct. 29 as Maine Wing Civil Air Patrol cadets put themselves to the test, competing in the challenging annual Cadet Competition.

Col. Blain Cote, CAP Maine Wing Commander, left, with the first through third-place representatives, Cadet Maj. Caroline Benson, CAP, Portland Composite Squadron Team Cadet Commander; Cadet Maj. Sean Haggerty, CAP, Auburn-Lewiston Composite Squadron Team Cadet Commander; and Cadet 2nd Lt. Bennett Gibson, CAP, Sanford Composite Squadron Team Cadet Commander. 2nd Lt. Amanda Goldman, CAP photo

Six teams of six cadets from six squadrons throughout Maine Wing competed in physical fitness, presentation and posting of the colors, drill, team leadership and uniforms. In the months leading up to the competition, the teams practiced and prepared with fierce determination to bring honor to their squadrons, according to a news release from 2nd Lt. Amanda Goldman with Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary.

Portland Composite Squadron earned first place in the competition with their exceptional color guard presentations standing out as a highlight of the day. The Auburn-Lewiston Composite Squadron ultimately earned second place, edging out the Sanford Composite Squadron by one point in a thrilling battle to the end. The first and second place teams will move on to the regional competition in 2024 where they will compete for the honor of representing the Northeast Region, consisting of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, at the national competition.

“Maine Wing cadets impress me regularly, but this year’s competition went beyond even my high expectations,” said 1st Lt. Laura Decato, Maine Wing Director of Cadet Programs. “The extraordinary amount of work these teams put in to readying themselves for competition showed today and I am so proud of each and every competitor.”

Teams from Bangor-Brewer Composite Squadron, Brunswick Composite Squadron and Waterville Composite Squadron rounded out the field of competitors, with each team representing the best of Maine Wing.

Maine Wing Civil Air Patrol has 10 squadrons throughout Maine that are open new cadets ages 12-18.
For more information, visit gocivilairpatrol.com.