Minnesota Wing Cadet Programs - Civil Air Patrol

Cadet Officer School Graduate: ‘You Don’t Need to be Fully Able to Be Able to Lead’ Before Cadet Lt. Col. Svetlana Ehlers started Cadet Officer School at National Headquarters last month, she was asked: “What do you do when you’re stressed?”“It seemed an odd question at the time, but I figured out the answer while I was there,” the 20-year-old said a week after returning ...

We found several vintage Civil Air Patrol aircraft tucked away in museums across the country (and abroad). See which ones in this article from CAP Volunteer magazine. 🛩️ https://bit.ly/4fsiR1w

It was Range Day for all!

1️⃣ BLC hit the range today! They filled their day with the Obstacle Course, Leadership Reaction Course, and Land Navigation training. Their hard work is paying off and they’re looking like a great group of cadets!

2️⃣ ALC packed up their camp at the lake and headed back into the range to work on more advanced leadership courses. They had a fun activity to end their time on the range, and got back JUST as it started to downpour.

You should be proud of your cadets (students and staff!) that are here at Camp Ripley. They’re working hard, and it really shows. We can’t wait to show them off at graduation on Sunday!

📸 Photos are continuously being updated here >> https://photos.cap.gov/North-Central-Region/Minnesota-Wing/Encampment/2024-Encampment-26th-CTG

Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, too! Just search !

Day 4 was a POWERful day! Air power, that is! ✈️

1️⃣ BLC began in the usual way with drill and formation, and then marched to the airfield. They got a first hand experience and watched a C130 fly over and land. Then the cadets all were able to go onboard and look around, ask the pilots questions, and explore the plane. They finished off the afternoon with a picnic at the airfield and marched back for afternoon classes and evening PT and Team Sports.

2️⃣ ALC packed up their rucksacks and headed out to the Range! The range courses forced them to learn to work as a team...and have fun! After a full day of activities, they enjoyed a cookout, bonfire, swimming in the lake, and setting up their tents to camp out overnight. They lucked out with no rain!

📸 Photos are continuously being updated here >> https://photos.cap.gov/North-Central-Region/Minnesota-Wing/Encampment/2024-Encampment-26th-CTG

Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, too! Just search !

Celebrating freedom, fireworks, and all things red, white, and blue. Happy 4th of July!

Health Services and Safety Brief: Fireworks season is upon us. Here is good information to keep in mind.

For more tips go to:https://dfs.dps.mo.gov/safetytips/fireworks-safety.php?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR21e4qnrYSBPMRspxdDqQzXagmOYR4vGHPTJjXe9MGwVYi0iwLfTWS2XTY_aem_nu2TwyKMAtCDeA6_mOdQ2A

Wishing all members of North Central Region, and their families, a very happy and safe Independence Day! Happy Birthday to the USA!

Day 3 started out a little damp and ended a little warm and muggy.

I’m continuously impressed by the staff’s capabilities to teach the cadets, but the behind-the-scenes work is equally impressive!

🍽️Dining staff feeding us incredible meals…
🏃‍♂️Runners taking things to and from all over encampment…
📷PAO's color-coded schedule to make sure there’s always photos...
🩹Medical team's exceptional care for everyone's health…
👀TAC’s mentoring and keeping an eye on their squadrons…
🚗Transportation keeping the van’s clean and ready…

And so many more behind-the-scenes cadets and senior members!

1️⃣ BLC was busy today! They hopped around between classes about Core Values, Aviation and Space, and Leadership. And it wouldn’t be encampment if they didn’t work on some drill and formation, too. They are starting to look really sharp out there!

2️⃣ ALC focused on classes about Integrity, Setting and Achieving Goals, Giving and Receiving Feedback, Team Building, and Motivational Theory. They’re guest speakers included FBI Leadership Specialist Chris Tatarka and Former C/Col and USAF F-16 Pilot Boaz Fink.

📸 Photos are continuously being updated here >> https://photos.cap.gov/North-Central-Region/Minnesota-Wing/Encampment/2024-Encampment-26th-CTG

Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, too! Just search !

Day 2 is in the books!

1️⃣ BLC Cadets spent a lot of time working on their drill skills today. They broke up the day by participating in classes like The History of CAP, Teamwork for Performance, and Discipline. The ended the day with some PT and Team Sports.

2️⃣ ALC Cadets also worked on their drill and calling drill as an NCO. They participated in classroom work about Critical Thinking for Leaders and Public Speaking for Leaders. The also enjoyed guest speakers Minnesota State Senator Aric Putnam and U.S. Army 1SG Jessica Stiffarm. The ended the day with some PT and went for a run.

What an incredible first couple of days! You can already see the great job the staff are doing as you watch their cadets progressing every day.

📸 Photos are continuously being updated at the SmugMug link in our bio!

Don’t forget to follow along on Facebook, too! Just search !

"You don’t set goals to do easy things. Goals take you somewhere that it is hard”: Practical Leadership Advice from 1st Lt Boaz Fink, USAF

Former Minnesota Wing C/Lt Col and Spaatz recipient Boaz Fink addressed the 26th CTG Advanced Leadership Course class to share practical leadership advice gleaned from his CAP career and United Air Force training this afternoon.

Find Your Niche
The CAP experience has a lot to offer in Aerospace Education, Emergency Services, and Cadet Programs. Lt Boaz found his niche in National Cadet Special Activities (NCSAs) and participated in 10 of them over his CAP cadet career. He is particularly fond of the Civil Engineering Academy and encouraged the ALC cadets to attend an NCSA.

Cadet Experience Takeaways
Lt Fink inspired the ALC cadets to identify their career goals and commit to it now.

Worthwhile goals take time to accomplish, so it’s vital to start working on them at the earliest opportunity.

It’s also important to commit o doing what it takes to get where you want to go, identify the steps necessary to get there, and put in all the effort you can to achieve the goals you set out to achieve.
"People don’t set goals to do easy things. Goals take you somewhere that it is hard," he said.

Lt Fink urged the ALC cohort to be aggressive in the pursuit of their goals. “No one else will do the work for you,” he said.

Lt Fink joined the Civil Air Patrol in 2011 and was a member of the Anoka Composite Squadron. He transferred to the North Central Region in 2017 and obtained his Spaatz in 2019.

He obtained his pilot’s license and instrument rating when he was a cadet prior to the existence of the Wings Program. Lt Fink logged 200 hours for his USAF pilot selection.

Lt Fink joined the Air Force ROTC during his freshman year at the University of Minnesota and entered active duty eight months after commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant before starting his pilot training fifteen months later. He made the best out of that time by starting work on his Masters Degree and finding opportunities to serve where needed.

Lt Fink graduated from his F-16 pilot training this past June.

Day 1 is complete! ✅

1️⃣ BLC Cadets (1st year encampment) got their bays set up, dove into basic classes like Safety and the Battle Buddy system, and were briefed on how to do room inspections.

2️⃣ ALC Cadets (advanced encampment) also began with a Safety Briefing and class on expectations for the week, and even completed the first of many 1.5 mile runs!

We look forward to a great week with the cadets. Check back tomorrow for more!

Photos are continuously being uploaded here all day long👉 https://photos.cap.gov/North-Central-Region/Minnesota-Wing/Encampment/2024-Encampment-26th-CTG

📸 Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, too!

Minnesota Encampment 2024 has begun! 🥳

Staff arrived Saturday, Day 0, and what an incredible team we have this year! They are so prepared and have worked so hard to get everything ready for your cadets to be successful and have fun this week.

We look forward to a great week. We're working hard to catch up on photos, so check back later this evening for Day 1!

For more photos, head here 👉 https://photos.cap.gov/North-Central-Region/Minnesota-Wing/Encampment/2024-Encampment-26th-CTG

📸 Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram

They did it!

Cadets learned how to shine their boots, iron their uniforms, and stand in formation. They spent time hearing about the Air Force Academy and enjoying evening PT.

Congratulations cadets and see you at encampment!

(A SmugMug photo album with all the weekend photos will be posted when it’s available.)

📸 Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram

Encampment Prep School is underway!

After being processed in, they’ve hit the ground running. Their time so far has been filled by learning basic cadet skills like formation, drill, customs and courtesies, and inspections. They’ve also experienced classes about Followership, The History of CAP, and Aerospace.

(And while your cadets were sleeping, the senior members got to check out the Northern Lights!)

Check back tomorrow for more!

📸 Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram

North Central Region, Civil Air Patrol, Cadet Competition First Place Overall: Duluth Composite Squadron, CAP (MN-016).

North Central Region, Civil Air Patrol, Cadet Competition Second Place Overall: Viking Composite Squadron (MN-030).

North Central Region, Civil Air Patrol, Cadet Competition Third Place Overall: Bismark Composite Squadron (ND-030).

BREAKING …

NCR Cadet Competion results:

1st place: Duluth Composite Squadron
2nd Place: Viking Composite Squadron
3rd place: Bismark Composite Squadron

North Central Region, Civil Air Patrol



Minnesota Wing Civil Air Patrol

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Mama Mia! The Viking Composite Squadron Pizzaiolos and their flying pizza pie made a splash at the AeroBuild last night. Their aricraft flew farther and fastest than all the others.

North Central Region, Civil Air Patrol, Commander Select Col Tom Theis is on site.