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The Wright Brothers Award is the CAP Cadet
Program's newest milestone award, taking effect on 1 April 2003, in the
centennial of Orville and Wilbur Wright's historic first flight.
Civil Air Patrol, the official Auxiliary of the United States Air Force,
has a three-fold mission: aerospace education of the American people,
emergency services and disaster relief for those in distress, and the cadet
program. The cadet program provides opportunities for the learning,
maturing, accepting, and nurturing of leadership to over 27,000 young
Americans from 12-20 years of age. With advice and assistance from CAP
members at national, regional, state and local levels and the US Air Force,
cadets are exposed to a structured program of aerospace education,
leadership, physical fitness, and moral and ethical values.
This structured program is divided into 16 segments called achievements,
each involving study and performance in the five program areas: leadership,
aerospace education, physical fitness, moral leadership, and activities.
Upon completion of each achievement, the cadet earns increased
responsibility, decorations, awards, eligibility for national and
international special activities, and opportunities for both flight and
academic scholarships. Completing many of the achievements also earn the
cadet a higher grade.
The first milestone of this endeavor is the Wright Brothers
Award, which is earned after completing Phase I, "The Learning
Phase," consisting of the first three achievements of the cadet program. In
addition, the cadet must pass an challenging examination testing leadership
knowledge and proficiency in drill and ceremonies.
Once a cadet earns the Wright Brothers Award, they are promoted to the
grade of cadet staff sergeant, begin service as cadet non-commissioned
officers, and continue to participate and advance as cadets in the U.S. Air
Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol.
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